Abstract

Grounded in interdependence theory, we sought to understand how religious giving is associated with relationship quality by drawing on two distinct datasets, one from emerging adult couples and another from established couples. Using structural equation modeling, we tested the direct association between religious giving and relationship quality, and whether it was mediated by materialism. Our quantitative findings contrasted previous research; we did not find materialism to mediate the association and found a significant, negative association between religious giving and relationship quality. Through a team-based coding approach, we explored how and why established couples believed religious giving impacted their relationship quality. Our qualitative dataset provided a clearer picture of how couples viewed religious giving as a sacred sacrifice and believed God returned blessings to their relationship. We uncovered a unique story about the relational impact of religious giving across different stages of marriage. For emerging adults, religious giving negatively influenced relationship quality, but over time, it came to be seen by established couples as a sacred practice that strengthened their relationship. Individually, the two analyses offered unique insights into the impact of religious giving. However, neither alone captured how interdependence develops as a marriage endures and evolves over time. Together, our quantitative and qualitative findings build upon one another and offer a more complete understanding of what it means to develop a sense of togetherness in a relationship.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Family Life

Rights

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