Husband–Wife Religious Discordance,Marital Satisfaction,and Risk of Marital Dissolution in Two Generations

Abstract

We examined whether three types of husband–wife religious discordance (denomination, intensity, and attendance) were associated with the risk of marital dissolution over three decades. Using multigroup path analysis, we tested the mediating and moderating roles of husbands’ and wives’ marital satisfaction in the above associations in two generations. Using the Longitudinal Study of Generations data, we selected 193 second-generation married couples and 173 third-generation married couples. Results showed that denomination discordance was positively associated with marital dissolution in both generations, but discordance in religious attendance and intensity had no such association. Moderation was found with respect to wives’ marital satisfaction which reduced the risk of marital dissolution more in couples of different denominations compared with couples of the same denomination. Mediating effects were not found with respect to marital satisfaction. Implications are discussed in terms of the continued importance of religious identity to the long-term stability of marriages.

Keywords

religion marital dissolution marital satisfaction generations Longitudinal Study of Generations

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