Religiosity And Family Functionality in Romanian Orthodox Religion

Abstract

The aims of the present paper were: (1) to explore whether personal and family religiosity can predict family functionality for Romanian Orthodox believers and (2) to investigate the influence of some of the socio-demographic factors on family functionality, and personal and family religiosity. The research sample consisted of 140 married people with children. We used the following instruments: Self-Report Family Inventory, Religious Faith Questionnaire, Religious Behaviour Questionnaire and Family Religiosity Questionnaire. The results of the regression analysis indicate that family religiosity is a better predictor for family functionality than personal religiosity. The best predictor for family functionality is family religious behaviour, followed by family religious faith, personal religious behaviour and personal religious faith. Independent sample t-test results suggest that family functionality is influenced by years of marriage, but it is not influenced by gender or number of children. Also, religiosity is influenced by gender, women reporting significant higher scores than men on personal religious behaviour, personal religious faith and family religious faith. There are no significant differences between rural and urban people in terms of family functionality, or personal and family religiosity. The results provide evidence to support the relation between personal religiosity, family religiosity, demographic factors and family functionality for Romanian Orthodox believers. Implications of these findings for marriage and family therapy are discussed.