Abstract
Literature shows that healthy relationships tend to improve healthy behaviors and quality of life outcomes including improved mental health. These benefits are lessened by stress. The stresses involved with participation in a graduate level educational program have been show to increase individual stress. This quantitative, longitudinal study sought to examine the intersection of relationship stability and participation in the Masters of Social Work program at California State University of Sacramento during the 2016-2017 school year. We hypothesized that participation in the MSW program would increase strain on intimate relationships and decrease relationship satisfaction. We used two existing and validated relationship assessment scales, the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) and the Relationship Rating Form (RRF), to examine the relationship satisfaction and stability of MSW I students (n=32) during their first and second semesters. The combined measures were sent to students via email during each semester using the Qualtrics online survey program and the returned data was analyzed using SPSS software. The data showed a statistically significant decline in relationship satisfaction for respondents during the study period, supporting our hypothesis. The impact of our research could influence the social work program at CSUS as well as similar programs across the country. Implications include the potential need for university funded support groups and orientations specifically targeting maintaining healthy relationships while in school. Further research is recommended to continue to observe relationship stress with future MSW cohorts, in various geographical areas, and over longer periods of time.