Search

Objective: Using participant responses from 525 different‐sex married and cohabiting African American couples, we examined the dyadic association between relational sanctification and relational forgiveness. Background: Religion has a central role in the lives of many African Americans because it traditionally has been a place of refuge against stressors that disproportionally impact African Americans. However, little is known about how African American couples utilize relational sanctification as a strength. Method: Data were collected from African American couples between October 2019 and January 2020 as part of a larger study called the Strong African American Couples Project. Utilizing dyadic panels from Qualtrics, this project specifically targeted African American couples who were cohabiting (n = 233) or married (n = 292) thus, enabling us to analyze a multigroup actor–partner interdependence model. Results: Significant actor effects were found between sanctification and individual as well as perceived partner forgiveness in married and cohabiting couple relationships. No significant partner effects were found. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of recognizing various aspects of religiosity and spirituality within relationships, especially for African American couples with historically high rates of dissolution and self‐rated religiosity. Implications: As interventionalists work with religious and spiritual African American couples, they need to understand the role that sanctity may have within these partner relationships and the positive impact it can have on relational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the common use of religious buffers, African Americans are disproportionately affected by depressive symptoms. Communal coping may serve as one factor in helping religious African American couples alleviate the symptoms of depression. This study examines the association between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms as mediated by the communal coping of 467 African American married and cohabiting couples. Data from the sampled couples were analyzed using a common fate model, and analyses revealed higher scores on the measure of sanctification were associated with more communal coping; more communal coping was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women and men, and communal coping acted as a mediator between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms in both partners. Findings from this study underscore the importance of considering how the religiosity and cooperative action of African American couples relate to depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial research has established that religiosity can be a protective factor against depression. However, little research has explored these associations within couples. Theory and previous research provide evidence that these relations may be manifest through marital satisfaction. A longitudinal Actor–Partner Interdependence Model was used to test the dyadic relations between religiosity at Time-3, marital satisfaction at Time-4, and depressive symptoms at Time-5 in a long-term committed community sample of 331 married couples. Husbands' religiosity had a direct positive longitudinal impact on husbands' marital satisfaction 1 year later. Husbands' religiosity led to lower levels of their own depressive symptoms through the indirect effects of husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction. Wives' religiosity did not significantly impact any of the variables in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple studies have found an inverse relationship between adolescent religiosity and adolescent depression. However, further research is needed to better understand the complexity of this relationship. One potential mediator that may help to explain this relationship is hope. Prior research has found that adolescent religiosity is predictive of increased adolescent hope and that higher levels of adolescent hope have been associated with multiple positive outcomes, including mental health in adolescents. However, no research has explored the mediational role of hope between religiosity and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Cross-sectional data from 459 adolescents were used to test this mediational or indirect effect. The direct effect between religiosity and depressive symptoms was not significant. However, there was a significant indirect effect whereby higher levels of adolescent religiosity were associated with higher levels of adolescent hope, which in turn were associated with lower levels of adolescent depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the Muslim practice of wearing thehijab—the veiling and covering of a woman’s head and body. More specifically, this study aims to present insiders’ perspectives regarding the personal understandings of thehijabamong 20 wives and 20 husbands (n = 40) in religious Shia and Sunni Muslim families living in USA. Qualitative analysis yielded three emergent themes: (1) Thehijabas a symbol of religious commitment; (2) thehijabas a tool of protection, rather than oppression, for women and families; and (3) two different views of Muslims’ reasoning behind thehijab. These data suggest that, as perceived by “insider” participants, thehijabhas perceived benefits for religious Muslim families, although counterexamples and concerns are also expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Throughout history, African Americans have endured much, and their experiences with discrimination and racism continue today. Despite ongoing challenges, African Americans have also shown their resilience. Religion and spirituality are two of the largest resources of resilience that African Americans employ. However, little is known about the role of religion and spirituality within African American couple relationships. Using dyadic data from 292 married and 233 cohabiting African American couples, we examined the impact of sanctification of the couple relationship on communal coping within the Actor Partner Interdependence Model. Significant actor effects were found between relational sanctification and communal coping for both married and cohabiting men and women. There was a significant partner effect between married men's relational sanctification and married women's communal coping. However, no other significant partner effects were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]