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

Woosang Hwang, Joonsik Yoon, Merril Silverstein, Maria T. Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number10.1177/0192513X19835871
Pages (from-to)1201-1223
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Family Issues
Volume40
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 12 2019

Keywords

  • Longitudinal Study of Generations
  • generations
  • marital dissolution
  • marital satisfaction
  • religion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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