Four types of premarital couples: An empirical typology based on PREPARE.

This study identified 4 types of engaged couples from a sample of 5,030 couples, using the premarital inventory PREPARE. Profiles were derived using a 3-stage clustering analytic procedure, including an exploratory cluster analysis, a replication of the exploratory results, and a cross-validation analysis, all of which indicated that the 4-cluster solution was the best. The VITALIZED couples (28%) reported high scores on all dimensions. HARMONIOUS couples (27%) had moderately positive relationship quality. TRADITIONAL couples (23%) had moderately low intrarelationship scores but scored higher on scales assessing planning for marriage. CONFLICTED couples (22%) were characterized by pervasively low scores.