BELIEF AND BEHAVIOR - DOES RELIGION MATTER IN TODAYS MARRIAGE

The impact of changes in religiosity on marital quality and vice versa was assessed using longitudinal data from a large sample (n = 1,008) of married persons. Little support is found for the idea that an increase in religious activity im proves marital relations. Although increases in religiosity slightly decrease the probability of considering divorce, they neither enhance marital happiness or interaction nor decrease conflict and problems commonly thought to cause divorce. On the other hand, an increase in marital happiness slightly increases two of the five dimensions of religiosity considered-the extent to which religion influences daily life and church service attendance, which is also affected by increases in marital interaction. In general, the link between religion and marital quality is both reciprocal and weak.