Role of Religious Orientation in Predicting Marital Adjustment and Psychological Well-Being

doi:10.4236/sm.2013.32020

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Sociology Mind

2013. Vol.3, No.2, 131-136

Published Online April 2013 in SciRes (http://www.scirp.org/journal/sm) http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/sm.2013.32020

Role of Religious Orientation in Predicting Marital Adjustment

and Psychological Well-Being

Taiebeh Yeganeh1*, Hassan Shaikhmahmoodi2

1Young Researchers Club, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

2Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

Email: *[email protected]

Received October 25th, 2012; revised December 27th, 2012; accepted January 18th, 2013

the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any

medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Considering indices such as dynamism and complexity of modern societies, advances in psychology sci-

ence, and increasing growth of spiritual needs of human against physical ones, also with respect to in-

creasing rate of divorce in Iran, current research was done in order to study the relationship between Reli-

gious Orientation and Marital Adjustment and Psychological Well-Being. The method of current research

is descriptive-correlation. Statistic population includes all married teachers of Langroud city in 2012,

which 150 individuals were selected as sample via multi level cluster sampling. Alport Religious Orienta-

tion Scale (1950), Spanir Marital Adjustment Scale (1976) and Ryff Psychological Well-Being question-

naire (1998) was used. Data analysis shows that there is meaningful relation between internal religious

orientation and marital adjustment (p = .000, r = .436) and also between internal religious orientation and

psychological well-being (p = .000, r = .506). In addition, results showed that internal religious orienta-

tion is able to meaningful predictions of Marital Adjustment and Psychological Well-Being. These find-

ings show that internal religious orientation can predict the psychological well-being and marital adjust-

ment meaningfully. So from scientific dimension, application of religion with the meaning of inner faith

is suggested in prevention and medical interferences in this area.

Keywords: Psychological Well-Being; Marital Adjustment; Religious Orientation

Introduction

According to comprehensive role of religious in improving

mental health and level of psychological well-being, impor-

tance of spirituality and its growth in human being in recent

decades has attracted attention of psychologists and psychia-

trists (Kezdy et al., 2010; Aten & Worthington, 2009; Aten &

Schenck, 2007). Many researches show that religious experi-

ences have a great effect on Psychotherapy. At the same time,

therapist schedule for making fundamental changes in charac-

teristic structure of patients is related directly to these religious

moods. In fact, religion as a mediator can effect on mental pro-

cedures and evaluation of daily events. Thus some researchers

believe that confronting stresses and social situations are facili-

tated via religious believes. Furthermore, notice that attitudes of

family members about religious will continuo and transfer reli-

gious values and behaviors to other generations, thus relation

between religious and family is considered an interactive one

(Mehoney et al., 2001).

Marital adjustment is harmony and sympathy between hus-

band and wife in achieving common goals in life which lead to

satisfaction from marriage. Marital adjustment let both sides

ignore conflicts and solve them with a suitable method and

achieve a positive feeling (Chen et al., 2007). Simply, marital

adjustment is a method which two married person are adjusted

with each other to keep their marriage (Bar-On & Parker, 2006).

Importance of adjusted marital relationships is due to its role

as one of the main factors in stability and strength of this rela-

tionship (Gaal, 2005). Unclear and ambiguous condition of

couples (Alois & Bruno, 2009), problems in social relationships,

tendency toward social and moral delinquency and falling of

cultural values between couples are some results of marital

unadjustment. Spanier (1976) define it as procedure that its

results are become clear via degreasing serious problems be-

tween couples, interpersonal stresses, personal anxiety and

increasing couples satisfaction from each other, stability and

consultation about important marital problems (Gong, 2000).

Halford et al. (2007) notice that effective factors on marital

adjustment include: personal characteristics, situational factors

and life events. Mutual love, take care each other, accept and

understand each other and satisfying needs. Among these, reli-

gious commitment as one of the basics of happy life is effective

on marital adjustment. Many researches show these findings, as

in Demaris et al. (2010) religiosity is reported to be the most

important factor in marital adjustment and here results show

that positive effect of religious in couples’ relationship is unde-

niable.

So undeniable role of religious commitment in achieving

marital adjustment and goal in life, having positive relation

with each other and totally, psychological well-being is clear.

According to Ryff and Keyes’ pattern of psychological well-

being (1995), there are 6 main basic factors as follows: purpose

in life, positive relationship with others, personal growth, self

*Corresponding author.

T. YEGANEH, H. SHAIKHMAHMOODI

acceptance, autonomy, domination on environment. In this

point of view, health is not the same as having no disease, in

other word the emphasis is on “being well” instead of “being

bad or ill” (Ryff et al., 2004). Characteristics such as adjust-

ment, happiness, self confidence and other positive ones show

healthy and psychological well-being. In this situation religious

can be mentioned as a useful unifying principle and a big sup-

port for mental health. World Health Organization (WHO) uses

physical, mental social and spiritual aspects in his definition for

human and the latest, spiritual, is said to be effective in growth

and promotion of the man (American Psychiatric Association,

2000). Thus, spirituality is an important part of peoples’ life

and has important effect on health and well-being. Previous

researches in this filed show a stable relation between religious

and psychological well-being. Result of the same researches

such as Kezdi et al. (2010) reports that religious training in

childhood will lead to tendency toward religion in teenagers

and youths and has positive effects on their mental health.

Findings of Williams (2010) express a strong relation between

doing religious behavior and psychological well-being. Also,

Koeing (2007) believes that mental and physical health of hu-

man has positive relation with his spiritual life and those with

higher religious commitment have higher adjustment in differ-

ent conditions. Hills & Francis (2004) and Hackney & Sanders

(2003) show that those who have stronger religious/ spiritual

believes, achieve higher points in mental and physical tests.

Faith, doing religious customs and attending related ceremonies

prevent mental problems and with its therapeutic role, improve

health level and psychological well-being.

Considering indices such as dynamicity and complexity of

modern societies, advances of psychology science, increasing

growth of spiritual needs of human vs material one, also num-

ber of divorces in Iran as a symbol of marital disorder (Halford

et al., 2007). Iran is placed in 4th placed after US, Denmark and

Egypt for the large number of divorces (Gholami & Beshlideh,

2012). Current research aims to study the relation between reli-

gious orientation and marital adjustment and psychological

well-being in order to determine the role of religious commit-

ment and use it as a complement beside other psychological

theories.

Method

The Sample and Sampling

The method of current research is descriptive correlation.

Statistical population includes all married teachers of Langrud

City in 2012 year, which 150 of them selected as sample. First

of all, the population was divided in to 5 geographical regions:

North, South, Center, East and West via multi level cluster

sampling (1 × 5 = 5). Then from each region, 3 schools were

selected randomly (1 × 5 × 3 = 15). And finally, all teachers

were gathered (1 × 5 × 3 × 10 = 150).

Research Tools

Allport Religious Orientation Scale: Allport and Ross in

1950 introduced this scale for evaluation of religious inward

and outward orientation. Based on Allport theory, an inward-

oriented religious is a comprehensive one with a organized

principles, in other word it is a motivated comprehensive com-

mitment which is a goal not a mean for that. On the other hand,

outward-oriented religious is something for satisfying person

needs such as position and security. This test with 21 question

measures the inward- and outward-religious orientation. Pri-

mary researches by Allport and Ross show that the Correlation

between inward- and outward-orientation is .21. In Iran, Inter-

nal Consistency for the test is reported as .71 by Jan Bozorgi

(1999) and retest reliability as .74.

Spanier Marital Adjustment Scale (D.A.S): Marital ad-

justment was measured by Spanier Scale which consist of 23

multi choice questions (always agree, almost always agree,

sometimes disagree, often disagree, almost always disagree,

always disagree). Spanier calculated the reliability of the ques-

tionnaire by Cronbach’s Alpha about .96 and the validity tested

by Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale. The correlation

coefficient of these two scales for married and divorced couples

were .86 and .88, respectively. In other research by Spanier &

Tampson, Cronbach’s Alpha was reported as .91. In Iran,

Cronbach’s Alpha is .92 and Validity is .94 (Quoted by Yar-

Mohammadyan, 2011).

Carol Ryff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire: It

concludes 82 questions and measures 6 separate aspects of

psychological well-being. Each question has 6 choices and

reported Cronbach’s Alpha is .83 up to .92.

Ryff (1989) study the reliability of the test by calculation of

correlation coefficient of positive psychological performance

(convergence validity) and negative psychological performance

(divergence validity). Results show that there is positive mean-

ingful correlation between 6 factors of this questionnaire and

those who study the positive psychological performance (p

< .001) and correlation domain is .25 up to .73 which con-

firmed the validity. At the same time, there is negative mean-

ingful correlation between 6 factors of this questionnaire and

those who study the negative psychological performance with

the range of −.03 to −.060. He also prove that these 6 factors

are independent but with internal correlation (p < .001) and

range of .32 up to .76 and measure the psychological well-

being (Quoted by Maddahi, 2011).

Result Analysis

The data obtained in the research were analyzed by using

appropriate statistical techniques, then explained and inter-

preted by forming charts. Frequency calculations were made,

“Pearson r Coefficient” and stepwise Multiple Regression was

calculated. When the statistical data of the study were evaluated,

the significance coefficient was taken as p < .01.

Results

Data analyze was done by Frequency, Mean, Standard devia-

tion, Pierson Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise Multiple

Regression. There were 150 participants and the age average

and Std was (40.32 ± 7.28), respectively.

Descriptive indexes of research variables are shown in Table

According to Table 1, there is a meaningful relation between

inward religious orientation and marital adjustment (r = .436, p

= .000) and inward religious orientation and psychological

well-being (r = .506, p = .000) but there wasn’t any meaningful

relation between outward religious orientation and any of vari-

ables.

Stepwise Multiple Regressions was used for determining the

role of “inward religious orientation” in predicting “marital

132

T. YEGANEH, H. SHAIKHMAHMOODI

Table 1.

Correlation matrix of research variables.

R Variables MeanSD 1 2 3 4

1 Inward Religious Orientation 35.777.82 1 - - -

2 Outward Religious Orientation 29.385.81 .005 1 - -

3 Marital Adjustment 106.53 8.85 .062 .436** 1 -

4 Psychological Well-Being 302.25 26.49 .008 .506**.305** 1

Note: **Correlation is significant at the .01 level (2-tailed).

adjustment”. Tables 2-4 show the results.

According to Table 2, Correlation Coefficient of inward re-

ligious orientation and marital adjustment is .43 Also Coeffi-

cient of determination is .19 which means that .19% of Variances

of the “marital adjustment” variable can be determined by “in-

ward religious orientation”.

As is shown in Table 3, F = 34.66 for “inward religious ori-

entation”, and according to significant level the variable can

predict marital adjustment (p = .000).

Based on Variance results and Stepwise Regression, calcu-

lated T in Table 4 between marital adjustment and inward reli-

gious orientation is meaningful and we conclude that “inward

religious orientation” with 99.9% reliability can predict “mari-

tal adjustment”.

The Regression equation for prediction of marital adjustment

by inward religious orientation is as follows:

Marital Adjustment = 65.037 + 1.412 (Inward Religious Ori-

entation)

Stepwise Multiple Regression analyze was used for determi-

nation of “inward religious orientation” in prediction “psycho-

logical well-being”. Results are shown in Tables 5-7.

According to Table 5, Correlation of inward religious orien-

tation and marital adjustment is .506. Also Coefficient of de-

termination is .25 which means that .25 % of Variances of the

“psychological well-being” variable can be determined by “in-

ward religious orientation”.

As is shown in Table 6, F = 51.02 for “inward religious ori-

entation”, and according to significant level the variable can

predict “psychological well-being” (p = .000).

Based on Variance results and Stepwise Multiple Regression,

calculated T in Table 7 between psychological well-being and

inward religious orientation is meaningful and we conclude that

“inward religious orientation” with 99% reliability can predict

“psychological well-being”. On the other hand, impact factor of

inward orientation is which predict 7.13 of psychological

well-being positively, i.e. the more inward orientation, the more

improve in level of psychological well-being.

The Regression equation for prediction of psychological

well-being by inward religious orientation is as follows:

Psychological Well-Being = 92.508 + 7.13 (Inward Religious

Orientation).

Discussion

Results show that there is positive correlation between in-

ward religious orientation and marital adjustment which means

that inward religious orientation can predict “marital adjustment”.

Research of Demaris et al. (2010), Nathaniel & David (2006),

Orathinkal & Vansteewegen (2006), Hunler & Gencoz (2005),

Mahoney (2005), Marsh & Dallos (2000) are in consistency

with this research, i.e. all of them confirm a positive relation

Table 2.

Correlation Coefficient.

Independent VariableR R2 Adjusted R

Square Std. Error of the

Estimate

Inward Orientation.436a.190 .184 17.031

Note: aPredictors: (Constant), Inward Religious Orientation.

Table 3.

Results of variance prediction of Marital Adjustment by predictor var:

Inward Religious Orientation.

Independent

Variable Source of

Changes Sum of

Squares DF Mean

Square F Sig.

Regression10052.94 1 10052.94 34.66.000a

Residual42926.38 148 290.04

Inward

Orientation

Total 52979.33 149

Note: aPredictors: (Constant), Inward Religious Orientation; **p ≤ .01; bDependent

Variable: Marital Adjustment.

Table 4.

Variance regression of Marital Adjustment.

Unstandardized

Coefficients

Standardized

Coeffici ents

Dependent Variable

B Std. Error Beta

t Sig.

(Constant)65.0377.18 9.05.000

Marital

Adjustment Inward

Orientation 1.412.240 .436 5.88.000

Note: aDependent Variable: Marital Adjustment **p ≤ .01.

Table 5.

Correlation coefficient.

R2 Independent VariableR Adjusted R

Square Std. Error of the

Estimate

Inward Orientation .506a .256 .251 70.943

Note: aPredictors: (Constant), Inward Religious Orientation.

Table 6.

Results of Variance prediction Psychological Well-Being by predictor

var: Inward Religious Orientation.

Indep VarSource of

Changes Sum of

Squares DF Mean

Square F Sig.

Regression 256818.61 1 256818.61 51.02.000a

Residual 744879.26 148 5032.968

inward

orientation

Total 1001697.87 149

Note: aPredictors: (Constant), Inward Religious Orientation; **p ≤ .01; bDependent

Vriable: Psychological Well-Being. a

Table 7.

Variance Regression of Psychological Well-Being.

Unstandardized

Coefficients

Standardized

Coefficients

Dependent Variable

B Std. Error Beta

t Sig.

(Constant)92.509. 27 3.09.002

Psychological

Well-BeingInward

Orientation7.13.999 .506 7.14.000

Note: aDependent Variable: Psychological Well-Being; **p ≤ .01.

T. YEGANEH, H. SHAIKHMAHMOODI

between religious commitment and marital adjustment.

Allport & Ross (1967) believes that inward religious orienta-

tion is comprehensive with organized principles. People with

inward religious orientation believe their religious training

honestly and their behaviour comes from their thought and

esoteric science. On the reverse, outward religious orientation is

a tool for satisfying needs such as position and security. In

other word in outward religious orientation, religious is in con-

cern about unhealthy needs and aspect of human so the more

outward religious orientation increase, the more marital ad-

justment growth. As religious give directions for life and be-

lieves, can effect on marital life positively (Hunler & Gencoz,

2005). In marital life these directions include principles about

sexual relationships, sex roles, self-sacrifice and solving con-

flicts (Mahoney et al., 2003).

Another aspect is effectiveness of religious on couple think-

ing, i.e. people with higher religious commitment, probably may-

be have more spiritual life (Mahoony, 2005). While a conflict

appears, religious can appear in form of common values and

concepts and solve the couples’ problems (Mahoney et al., 1999).

From inter-personal point of view, religious customs enable

person to control his anger physiologically and emotionally,

also help him accept his responsibility while conflict appears.

Religious provide situations that the person pay more attention

to God and act as a support for both couples to avoid conflicts.

Thus relationship with God is somehow an interactive role in

marital adjustment.

Another finding of current research is the positive meaning-

ful correlation between inward religious orientation and psy-

chological well-being which means that inward religious orien-

tation can predict “psychological well-being”. Research of

Newton & Mcintosh (2010), Williams (2010), Kezdy et al.

(2010), Rodriguez & Henderson (2010), McCullough & Wil-

loughby (2009), MacGregor (2008), Sorajjakol et al. (2008),

Marks (2008) are in consistency with this research, i.e. all of

them confirm a positive relation between religious commitment

and psychological well-being.

Allport believes that it is just inward religious orientation

that improves mental health. Religious provide a suitable con-

dition for answering basic questions of human such as identity

and choosing life style in order to get perfection so contribute

to adjustment and psychological well-being. In inward religious

orientation person gain the pleasure of connecting to the source

of perfection and promotion and motivated for promotion. This

motivation encourages them for living better (Allport, 1950,

1963).

Religious effect on improving level of psychological well-

being can be expressed as providing a supportive space and

“social unity source”. In fact religious increases level of self

confidence, adjustment and self-esteem, which are basic factors

of mental health and psychological well-being, via providing

social support and understanding.

Adler believes that comparison of human with the source of

perfection and promotion is an important factor in psychologi-

cal well-being, also accept the effect of religious in social en-

vironment and express that it is more advanced than sciences as

he thinks that religious motivated people more actively. Ac-

cording to his point of view, religious and knowledge are the

same for peoples only when knowledge can create the same

enthusiasm as religious and provide the well-being of whole

components of the society (Nelson & Jones, 1957; Nelson,

1990; Nielsen, 2001).

Frankel define religious as a “search for final meaning” and

believes that human nature consist of three components: spiri-

tuality, freedom and responsibility and achieving to perfection

is possible only through spirituality. He thinks that main role in

promotion of person and society belongs to coordination be-

tween physical, mental and religious aspect (Frankel, 1975).

Religious behaviors and beliefs with positive effect make the

life meaningful. Internal relaxation mechanism via religious

happens through actions such as trust in God and worship

which create hope and motivate person for positive attitude.

Religious functions in facing with complex situations of life

will be effective through feeling of belonging to an unlimited

source of power, hope to God help, benefit from social support

and having goal in live (Yang & Mao, 2007). Thus religious

with important functions in peoples’ life such as relaxation,

giving hope, create happiness, giving meaning to life and satis-

faction is useful for improving psychological well-being.

Another finding of current research is the positive meaning-

ful correlation between marital adjustment and psychological

well-being which is in consistency with researches of Vander-

bleek et al. (2011), Yalcin BM, Karahan (2007), Stutzer et al.

(2006), Wilson & Oswald (2005), DePaulo & Bella (2004),

Diener et al. (2002).

Vanderbleek et al. (2011) show that those couples which

spent more times with each other and have common entertain-

ment will have more verbal and emotional communication,

therefore it affects their physical and psychological health.

Yalcin & Karahan (2007) believe that training components of

psychological well-being such as sympathy, responsibility and

self-analysis increases marital adjustment.

Adjustment between husband and wife let them avoid con-

flicts and solve them in a proper way with common positive

feelings and improve their level of psychological well-being

(Chen et al., 2007). Emotional and psychological needs of per-

son such as biological ones are created in family and satisfied

or suppressed by family members’ reactions. In an adjusted

marital relationship, satisfying mental and sexual needs is a

basic factor in providing the most suitable condition for promo-

tion and perfection of peoples’ well-being.

According to the results of this research, commitment to reli-

gious can create and promote level of marital adjustment and

psychological well-being. Thus besides other common methods

of prevention and treatment of psychological problems, impor-

tant role of spirituality in marital adjustment and psychological

well-being is become highlighted.

As religious and spiritual treatment methods have not gained

their proper scientific position, and then such researches are

necessary. It is suggested that in future researches, level of re-

ligiosity and other related factors to be evaluated in both wife

and husband, also relation between religious orientation and

marital adjustment and psychological well-being in other reli-

gious and various faith to be studied.

Acknowledgements

We appreciate all who helped us in this research.

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