Effects of Religiosity,Forgiveness, and Spousal Empathy on Marital Adjustment |
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| Authors: | James E McDonald Jonathan R Olson Ann H Lanning H Wallace Goddard James P Marshall |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Counseling and Health Psychology, Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA, USAjames.mcdonald@bastyr.edu;3. Department of Counseling and Health Psychology and Public Health Program, Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA, USA;4. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock, AR, USA;5. Counseling Manager, LDS Family Services, Logan, UT, USA |
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| Abstract: | This study focused on married couples in a region of the United States that previous research has identified as having high rates of both religiosity and divorce. As a result, this study was designed to examine the effects of religiosity, forgiveness, and spousal empathy on marital adjustment. To investigate these constructs, married couples in this region were recruited (n?=?829) to participate in a cross-sectional, self-report telephone survey. Results indicate that religious service attendance and spousal empathy have direct positive effects on marital adjustment in European American married men; while religious service attendance, forgiveness, and spousal empathy have direct positive effects on marital adjustment in European American married women. Among African-American participants, only spousal empathy had a direct effect on marital adjustment for both men and women. Finally, spousal empathy moderated the association between previous marriage and current marital adjustment among European American married women. |
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| Keywords: | divorce gender marriage religion |
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