Finding meaning in religious practices: The relation between religious holiday rituals and marital satisfaction

Barbara H. Fiese, Thomas J. Tomcho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examined the relation between marital satisfaction and religious holiday ritual practices. One hundred twenty couples, married 9 years on average, completed measures of religious holiday practices (current family and family-of-origin) and marital satisfaction. Couples were interviewed about how important religion was to their family life. Marital satisfaction was related to religious holiday rituals beyond a global indication of religiousness. A different pattern was found for husbands and wives, with husbands' satisfaction more closely linked to ritual meaning and wives' satisfaction associated with routine practices. Family-of-origin rituals were connected across generations. Wives' marital satisfaction was related to husbands' report of religious holiday rituals but not the converse. Results are discussed in terms of how rituals affirm relationships, connect values and beliefs, and may have differential meaning for men and women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)597-609
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Family Psychology
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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