Attitude towards Marriage and Marital Quality: A Comparison among Israeli Arabs Differentiated by Religion

Abstract

Key Words: Israeli Arabs, marital quality, mate selection, potent:y. This study examines the effects of several variables which are considered to influence marital satisfaction-mate selection, potency, levels of education, attitudes towards love, and expectations regarding marriage-among Israeli Arabs. divided by religion into three groups: Muslims, Christians (Roman Catholics), and Druze. Findings revealed that marital quality was higher among Druze and Christians than among Muslims. Potency contributed to marital quality in all groups, while levels of education affected marital quality among Muslims and Christians but not Druze. he constructions and perceptions of marital quality vary across cultures (Adelmann, Chadwick, & Baerger, 1996; Shek, Lam, Tsoi, & Lam, 1993; White, 1983). Little research, however, has focused on Arab people (Bin-Manie, 1986; Hanassab, 1994; Soad, 1990), and findings on the experiences of other societies, particularly the extensive research on Western cultures (e.g., Birtchnell, 1993; Birtchnell & Kennard, 1984; Muench & Landrum, 1994; Russell & Wells, 1991, 1992; Schumm, Patt-Bergen, & Hatch, 1986; Williams, 1995), may have little immediate applicability. The Arab minority in Israel is considered to be a society in transition, caught between Eastern and Western cultures due to the process of Westernization in Israel (Al-Haj, 1989). The present study is the first of its kind to consider marital quality among Israeli Arab subjects, and whether there are different experiences among this population's three major religions, Christianity (Roman Catholic), Druze, and Islam. The purpose of this study is to contribute to knowledge regarding the relationship between culture (in this case Arab) and religion, and to determine which is more significant in determining marital selection and satisfaction. Several variables widely considered to influence marital satisfaction are analyzed: These include mate selection processes, attitudes toward love, and expectations regarding marriage. Although previous research has pointed to a relationship between marital satisfaction and the above variables, findings are relatively inconclusive (Spanier & Lewis, 1980). Katz and Briger (1988), for example, examined the relationship among attitudes toward love, expectations about marriage, and marital satisfaction. They found that the more women perceived themselves as being entitled to be loved and treated as equals in marriage, the higher the level of marital satisfaction (Israeli & Tabory, 1986). However, it was also found that marital conflicts increased among husbands of higher educated women, who demanded equality and mutual love, which led to a decline in the husband's satisfaction (Burk & Wier, 1976; Murillo,1971). In addition to expectations and attitudes, each couple has a unique history regarding the selection of the marriage partner, which encompasses factors such as the length and nature of the courtship, the extent to which each desired to marry, and the manner in which the couple's attachment was made (autonomous decision vs. arranged marriage). Again, the research findings of how these variables affect marital satisfaction are inconclusive. Several researchers have contended, for example, that long courtships involve a process of revelation and exposure that lead to more meaningful, stable relationships and better preparation for marriage (Blood, 1969; Katz & Beach, 1997; Murstein, 1980). Others have pointed to a sharp difference in Western society between courtship and marriage, making the transition difficult for both partners, so lengthy courtship has minimal influence on marital satisfaction (Clayton, 1975; Kenkel, 1985; Rosenthal & Grieve, 1990; Tamara-Goldman, 1996). Finally, previous studies show that the degree to which an individual wishes to marry is affected by the attitudes and values he or she has developed about his or her social group (Rosenblatt & Cozby, 1972; Shachar,1991). …