E-book puts newlyweds on the right path

A groundbreaking ebook, entitled Marriage +, by the Caritas Family Service has been identified as a valuable resource for those who recently walked down the aisle, according to a study conducted by Baptist University.

The study revealed that this self-help guide can significantly enhance satisfaction among couples, providing them with the necessary tools to navigate the challenges that married life can present.

Specifically designed for newlyweds, the Marriage +: From Me to We" ebook was launched by Caritas in September. It harnesses the power of digital technology to bring couples closer together, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to a life together and bolstering their confidence in working through issues.

"The rise in the crude divorce rate in Hong Kong, from 1.11 in 1991 to 2.14 in 2019, underscores the need to prioritize the maintenance of healthy relationships within marriage," said senior social worker supervisor Monica Cheung Wai-ling, adding that it was important to address this issue and support couples as they build and sustain fulfilling partnerships.

The Jockey Club Smart Family-link Project, with financial backing from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, collaborated with the university from September to January to assess the effectiveness of Marriage + as a digital intervention in influencing marital relationships.

The study employed a randomized controlled trial, comparing experiences of an experimental group who received intervention with those of a control group.

"The results revealed a significant increase in overall marriage satisfaction among the experimental group, while no substantial changes were observed among the control group," said Zhuang Xiaoyu, assistant professor of social work.

"Within the experimental group, males exhibited heightened awareness of their wives' active contributions in sharing responsibilities, contrasting with a decline observed in the control group."

Also, the experimental group displayed a more pronounced and sustained increase in marriage satisfaction.

For females, the study found a notable increase in their employment of emotional regulation strategies, while no significant changes occurred in the control group.

And the experimental group showed a significant growth in marriage commitment, whereas a slight decline was observed in the control group.

The feedback from couples who participated in the program was overwhelmingly positive.

Over 95 percent expressed satisfaction with its effectiveness in nurturing their marriage, while nearly 90 percent agreed that it aided them in overcoming marital challenges.

Participants praised the ebook's well-designed format, which included video content featuring social workers and real-life case studies.