RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE ON MARITAL STABILITY

Researchers frequently postulate a strong relationship between religio sity and marital stability. We incorporate a multidimensional specific ation of religiosity into event-history models of the religion-marital stability relationship. Results are based on panel data from the Nati onal Survey of Families and Households (N = 4,587 married couples), Wh ile no single dimension of religiosity adequately describes the effect of religious experience on marital stability, the frequency of religi ous attendance has the greatest positive impact on marital stability. When both spouses attend church regularly, the couple has the lowest r isk of divorce. Spouse differences in church attendance increase the r isk of dissolution. All significant religious affiliation influences d isappear once demographic characteristics are controlled. The wife's r eligious beliefs concerning marital commitment and nonmarital sex are more important to the stability of tbe marriage than the husband's bel iefs.