Marriage training as a means of mental health

• Seppo Niemelä

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33336/aik.96806

Abstract

The article considers two items: 1) the family’s role of mental health and 2) a recent study of the affect of marriage training on the development of the marital relationship. The basis for the theory is a Christian marriage model. Using this basis, the marital relationship development for two marital age groups are investigated. Connected with the maintenance of satisfaction in the marital relationship is a paradoxical risk: if the durability of the marriage is uncertain, why bother investing in it? The marriage training acts as a new and beneficial factor in minimizing the risk. The results also show the effects of the training on the emotional atmosphere. In interpreting the results the following model of Max Weber has been used: the protestant ethic does not accept the acquisition of wealth as a goal in life, but it promotes the accumulation of capital when it comes as the fruit of one’s profession, i.e. one’s worldly calling.