A new University of 91吃瓜 family education and research project will seek to teach married couples from throughout Northern Indiana strategies to improve their relationships and help them become better parents.p. Titled 鈥淭he Happy Couples and Happy Kids Project,鈥� the effort is based on research 91吃瓜 psychologist E. Mark Cummings has been conducting to determine how marital conflict negatively influences a child鈥檚 development.p. 鈥淲e have been developing a program at 91吃瓜 for several years that aims to support marriage by educating parents about how to handle conflicts better for the sake of their children,鈥� said Cummings, who holds the 91吃瓜 Chair in Psychology. 鈥淒ifficulties in handling marital conflict are a primary reason why marriages fail, and are linked with mental health problems in children and parents.鈥漰. Cummings and his colleagues are looking for couples in Northern Indiana with a child between the ages of 3 and 7 to participate in the research project. Participants will be asked to attend workshops in which they will learn strategies for constructive conflict resolution, parenting and marital communication. The sessions will be held at 91吃瓜鈥檚 Center for Children and Families, 1602 Ironwood Drive, South Bend, and will last for two to three hours. Couples also will be asked to complete questionnaires in addition to attending the workshops.p. Participants will earn $90 for taking part in the project and free child care is available during each visit to the center.p. The research information gathered during the program will be used to develop a cost-effective, scientifically based preventive resource available to all families in Northern Indiana. Cummings and his researchers also hope to eventually disseminate their strategies for improving marital relations by improving conflict resolution on a national level.p. 鈥淲e know a lot more about the distinction between constructive and destructive conflict from the children鈥檚 perspective, and have shown that constructive conflict may even have beneficial implications for children鈥檚 functioning,鈥� Cummings said.p. For more information or to register for the 鈥淗appy Couples and Happy Kids Project,鈥� call 574-631-0886.p.
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