Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of premarital education
and counselling on the knowledge and attitudes of University of Cape Coast
students towards marriage. The study was based on the quantitative research
approach and adopted the quasi-experimental research design. The sample
comprised 150 students selected using purposive and convenience sampling
techniques. Data were collected using questionnaire comprising the
Relationship Knowledge Questionnaire and the Marital Attitudes and
Expectations Scale. The intervention was carried out for the two experimental
groups (Premarital counselling and premarital education) in eight weeks. Data
were analysed using One-Way and Two-Way Analysis of Covariance
(ANCOVA). The results showed that there was a statistically significant
difference in the groups involved in the study in terms of their knowledge
about marriage. Specifically, participants in the premarital education and
premarital counselling groups had higher scores in terms of knowledge about
marriage compared to the control group. The study also found that there was a
significant difference in the post-test scores of the groups in terms of the
attitude towards marriage. Specifically, participants in the premarital
education and counselling groups had higher scores relating to their attitudes
towards marriage when compared with the control group. It was concluded
therefore, that premarital education and counselling improves the knowledge of
students about marriage. It was recommended that to improve the knowledge
and attitude of students regarding marriage, university counsellors and other
marriage counsellors should adopt premarital education and counselling
approaches in dealing with students.
