Jan
27
2012
Family Facts #1
Research shows that a belief in the spiritual significance of marriage is associated with marital quality:
Couples who believe that marriage has spiritual significance tend to adjust more easily to marriage, experience lower levels of conflict, invest more in their relationship and collaborate more in resolving disagreements. Participating in religious activities with one's spouse, holding views that support the sanctification of marriage, and perceiving God's presence in one's marriage were all correlated positively with overall marital adjustment. Higher scores (on marital sanctification and God's presence) predicted greater investment in marriage, less frequent marital conflict, and greater collaboration to resolve disagreements.
A. Mahoney, K.I. Pargament, T. Jewell, A.B. Swank, E. Scott, E. Emery, and M. Rye, "Marriage and the Spiritual Realm: The Role of Proximal and Distal Religious Constructs in Marital Functioning," Journal of Family Psychology 13, No. 3 (1999): 321-338.
(Via: FamilyFacts.org)