Shared Christian Religious Identity, Religiousness, and Marital Satisfaction

Abstract

This study investigates whether shared Christian religious identity between spouses, individual/shared religiousness, and satisfaction with that religiousness affects individual and marital satisfaction. Research participants (N\u2009=\u2009568) completed psychometric measures to report: individual wellbeing, emotional intimacy as a couple, satisfaction with sexual intimacy as a couple, and overall marital satisfaction. Results indicated shared religious identity was correlated with higher marital satisfaction. Generally, higher levels of religiousness were correlated with higher scores on the outcome measures. Finally, participants’ satisfaction with their individual and shared religiousness was significantly correlated with higher scores on the selected outcome measures.