Religion in Families, 1999–2009: A Relational Spirituality Framework

Abstract

This review examines the role of religion, for better and worse, in marital and parent-child relationships according to peer reviewed studies from 1999–2009. A conceptual framework labeled “relational spirituality” is used to: (a) organize the breadth of findings into the three stages of the formation, maintenance, and transformation of family relationships, and (b) illustrate three in-depth sets of mechanisms to delve into unique ways religion may shape family bonds. Topics include union formation, fertility, spousal roles, marital satisfaction and conflict, divorce, domestic violence, infidelity, pregnancy, parenting children, parenting adolescents, and coping with family distress. Conclusions emphasize moving beyond markers of general religiousness and identifying specific spiritual beliefs and practices that could prevent or intensify problems in traditional and nontraditional families.

Religiosity and Relationship Quality of Dating Relationships: Examining Relationship Religiosity as a Mediator

“…Past studies state that partner religiosity contributes to relationship quality (e.g., Clements et al 2004), whereas other studies illustrate that partner religiosity does not influence relationship quality (e.g., Mahoney 2010). Although these studies focus on married couples, results of the current study illustrate the importance for dating couples to participate in religious activities together, rather than one of the coupled participants participating in religious activities.…”

“…However, research on the influence of partner religiosity for relationship quality have produced mixed results. While some studies demonstrated that partners' religiosity was positively associated with relationship quality (Clements et al 2004;Perry 2015), other studies displayed no significant effects of partner religiosity for relationship quality (Mahoney 2010;Mahoney et al 2001). Gender appears to provide an explanation for this discrepancy, as some studies illustrated that women benefited more from having religious partners than men who have religious partners (Lopez et al 2011).…”

Religion and Relationships in Muslim Families: A Qualitative Examination of Devout Married Muslim Couples

“…This paper answers the call of religion and family scholars who have urged researchers to examine more thoroughly the role of religion on families of the various minority religious traditions (i.e., non-Christian), and to rely more on qualitative data [1,5,13]. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of Islam on marital and familial relationships and to present our participants' reflections on sensitive issues, including gender roles, women's rights and marital unity.…”

“…After analyzing 184 studies (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)) on various connections between religion and family life, Mahoney suggested that researchers must narrow their foci as they move forward [5]. Specifically, for example, she identified a need to examine nontraditional families, religious and ethnic minority families and to use more qualitative and high-quality quantitative (e.g., longitudinal) methods.…”

“…Empirical research on religion vis-à-vis the family has seen a substantial increase over the past fifteen years or so, and numerous correlations between variables of family and religion have been identified [1][2][3][4][5]. Researchers, however, have recognized that research on religion and family life OPEN ACCESS remains at an infancy stage in many ways [6].…”