Abstract
Although associations between religiosity and marital quality have been demonstrated in previous research, mechanisms still remain unclear. Three 3-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine whether 10 individual, dyadic or family religious activities or uses of 7 forms of Christian media predicted positive relationship quality, negative interaction and intimate partner violence in a sample of North American Protestants. Joint spousal and family religious activities predicted higher levels of relationship quality. Individual activities, such as reading the Bible, and parent-child activities, such as praying with children and discussing Christians values with children, predicted lower levels of relationship quality. Listening to Christian talk radio and viewing Christian websites or blogs predicted lower levels of relationship quality. The authors inferred that individuals in low-quality relationships use activities such as reading the Bible, listening to Christian talk radio, and viewing Christian websites and blogs to seek information to improve relationships or promote healthy adaptation. Similarly, the authors speculated that praying with children and discussing spiritual values with them were seen as interventionary measures to protect children when parents were in low-quality relationships.
Highlights
The relationship between religion and marital quality is complex (Atkins and Kessel 2008; Eggebeen and Dew 2009; Vaaler et al 2009), but generally religious behavior and values have been associated with higher marital quality (Fincham et al 2011; Mahoney 2010; Mahoney et al 2001).The couples that practice their religion in every aspect of life tend to improve their relationship with God and their spouse (Chaney et al 2016)
Distinctive contributions to the literature include the exploration of how the consumption of Christian media is related to marital quality and how religious activities and Christian media consumption are related to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Our study examines some of the same variables and looks at the relationship of Christian media consumption among Protestants
Summary
The relationship between religion and marital quality is complex (Atkins and Kessel 2008; Eggebeen and Dew 2009; Vaaler et al 2009), but generally religious behavior and values have been associated with higher marital quality (Fincham et al 2011; Mahoney 2010; Mahoney et al 2001).The couples that practice their religion in every aspect of life tend to improve their relationship with God and their spouse (Chaney et al 2016). Distinctive contributions to the literature include the exploration of how the consumption of Christian media is related to marital quality and how religious activities and Christian media consumption are related to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). More than two decades ago, Fincham and Linfield (1997) observed that marital quality includes both positive and negative dimensions that are distinct and should be measured separately, and Fincham and colleagues have created validated scales that measure the constructs separately (Rogge et al 2017). A negative interaction in relationships has been associated with lower satisfaction and higher rates of relationship dissolution (see Gottman and Notarius 2000 for review). Our study explores the association between negative interaction and religious activities, including the use of Christian media
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