Spiritual Beliefs and Marriage: A National Survey Based on ENRICH

Spirituality and faith are powerful aspects of human experience. According to Gallup and Lindsay (1999), 70% of Americans claim membership in a church or synagogue, with three out of five adults indicating that religion is “very important” in their lives. Of the 90% of Americans who reportedly pray, the most common prayer (98%) is for the “well-being of their families.” With religion so prevalent and important in the family lives of Americans, it is an intriguing time to consider the connection between spirituality and marriage. Given the potential impact of spiritual beliefs and faith, it makes sense for couples to explore their spiritual compatibility, and for researchers to investigate and evaluate the impact of spiritual compatibility on marriage relationships. The purpose of our study was to look at this relationship between spiritual beliefs and marital dynamics using a multidimensional scale. We looked not only at various areas of marital relating, but also at types of marital systems.