Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2001
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Abstract
The association between religiosity and marital outcome has been repeatedly demonstrated. However, a complete understanding of this relationship is hindered by theoretical and methodological limitations. The purpose of the current study was to test three explanatory models by assessing two samples of newlywed couples. Findings indicate that religiosity is associated with attitudes toward divorce, commitment, and help-seeking attitudes cross-sectionally. Longitudinal effects, however, are most consistent with a moderating model, wherein religiosity has a positive impact on husbands, and wives' marital satisfaction for couples with less neurotic husbands, and a negative impact for couples with more neurotic husbands. Overall, the impact of religiosity is weak over the first four years of marriage. Theoretical propositions are offered to guide future research in delineating the types of marriages that may be most affected by religiosity.
Recommended Citation
Sullivan, K.T. (2001). Understanding the relationship between religiosity and marriage: An investigation of the immediate and longitudinal effect of religiosity on newlywed couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 610-626.
Comments
Copyright © 2001 American Psychological Association. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.15.4.610