Prayer and Marital Intervention: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Discomfort with the integration of spiritual activities into marital interventions may be a response by practitioners to the weakness of available conceptual frameworks. We offer a framework that allows for integration of prayer into marital interventions (educational or therapeutic), and argue that when culturally appropriate, prayer can serve multiple functions in interventions that are consistent with traditional goals of skill-based approaches. Several specific ways in which prayer can be either an alternative or an addition to existing intervention strategies are outlined. The potential negative effects of prayer for couples and the dangers of integrating prayer into programs are also discussed. We conclude that effective skill-based family intervention and prevention with some traditionally underserved groups may require increased attention to integration of spiritual practices that are common in those groups.

I say a little prayer for you: Praying for partner increases commitment in romantic relationships.

“…However, PFPP is quite versatile and potentially varied. As has been noted previously (Beach, Fincham, Hurt, McNair, & Stanley, 2008), prayer could include a wide range of potentially valuable compo nents that may lead to increased impact on subsequent marital behavior as well as increased impact on one's own and one's partner's satisfaction.…”

Satisfaction and Stressors in a Religious Minority: A National Study of Orthodox Jewish Marriage

“…Related research demonstrates that prayer may enhance marital relationships (Beach et al 2011; see also Fincham, Beach, Lambert, Stillman, & Braithwaite, 2008; Lambert, Fincham, LaVallee, & Brantley, 2012). Beach, Fincham, Hurt, McNair, and Stanley (2008) went so far as to recommend prayer as a marital therapy intervention. Our findings in the Orthodox Jewish community may be consistent with this body of data.…”

Relationship Maintenance: A Review of Research on Romantic Relationships

“…Spiritual behaviors, such as meditative prayer, are posited to promote emotion regulation through relaxation and to help partners regain perspective. If the focus of the activity is on judging partner transgressions or seeking divine retribution, however, results could be deleterious (see Beach, Fincham, Hurt, McNair, & Stanley, ). In fact, prayer could have negative implications if there is a persistent focus on partner faults or changing the partner (see Fincham et al, ).…”