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The relationship between differentiation and religion in the marital relationship; It's impact on marital satisfaction in black and white couples

Leigh, Diana Marie

Abstract Details

1999, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Human Ecology.

Bowen (1978) believed that all individuals develop emotional ties to their families of origin, termed differentiation, and that these ties determine emotional boundaries in subsequent relationships. In this study, differentiation pertained to a couple's ability to negotiate emotional boundaries in the marital system. In addition, this investigation considered Bowen's theoretical position between religion and differentiation, as well as examined the relationship between differentiation and marital variables: communication and conflict resolution, by race.

A convenience sample of 49 Black couples and 45 White couples was used. The groups were similar in terms of overall demographics, including SES, education, and years married.

The model was tested using LISREL VIII as an observed variable model. The disturbance terms for the endogenous variables were set to correlate. The models were considered separately for Black and White couples, then a Chi-square difference test procedure was performed to ascertain whether the structure of the model was the same for Black and White couples.

The results indicated that there were few differences between Black and White couples overall. However, in the model tests, how marital satisfaction was measured made a difference. Using the KMS, a global measure of marital satisfaction, both husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction were significantly predicted by differentiation when using the husbands' model and the Black wives' model. When using the husbands' MCLI, husbands' marital satisfaction was predicted but not the wives'. And with the wives' MCLI, their marital satisfaction was predicted but not the husbands'. With the husbands' and wives' ENRICH model, wives' marital satisfaction was significantly predicted but not the husbands'.

T-tests showed significant mean differences by race for husbands' KMS and for wives' KMS. There were also significant differences for communication and conflict resolution. In general, the patterns of correlations were the same for Black and White couples.

In sum, this study supported the relationships between differentiation and marital satisfaction, but did not indicate a significant relationship between differentiation and religion. Additionally, only in the husbands' KMS model did religion significantly predict wives' marital satisfaction, but no direct relationships were found between religion and husbands' marital satisfaction in any model.

Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor)
150 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Leigh, D. M. (1999). The relationship between differentiation and religion in the marital relationship; It's impact on marital satisfaction in black and white couples [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1380895479

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Leigh, Diana. The relationship between differentiation and religion in the marital relationship; It's impact on marital satisfaction in black and white couples. 1999. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1380895479.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Leigh, Diana. "The relationship between differentiation and religion in the marital relationship; It's impact on marital satisfaction in black and white couples." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 1999. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1380895479

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)