Abstract

This study has two main purposes. First, to develop from theory hypotheses concerning the association between attendance of L.D.S., male household heads at church related activities and certain specific variables; and to test these hypotheses. The second purpose was to test certain other variables, (not related to theory) for association with church attendance of L.D.S., male household heads.

The chi-square test was used to determine whether or not the variables were significantly associated and the coefficient of contingency test to determine to what extent they were related. The .05 level of probability was chosen as the criterion for significance.

A sample was obtained upon which the findings were based. It consisted of 378 male, L.D.S. household heads whose wives were also members of the L.D.S. Church. It was taken from three distinct random samples of people living in towns and open country areas of Juab and Sanpete Counties in central Utah. The respondents were personally interviewed during April and May of 1958 by six persons especially trained for this purpose.

The findings of this study tended to support all of the hypotheses and to lend weight to the propositions from which they were derived.

The propositions derived from the findings of other studies and supported in this study were:
1. Household heads will have rates of attendance that are generally similar to the rates of attendance at church related activities of other members of the family.
2. Those with high attendance at L.D.S. church related activities will more likely conform to certain emphasized standards, principles, and suggestions of the church and will more likely have leadership responsibilities than will those with lower attendance at church related activities.

The hypotheses derived from the above propositions and supported in this study are:
High attendance of of household heads at church related activities will be positively associated with:
1. High attendance of wives at church related activities.
2. Number of church related organizations to which they belong.
3. Number of church related organizations to which wives belong.
4. Usual family attendance at church.
5. Regular holding of family prayers.
6. Regular holding of family night.
7. Frequency of religious discussions between husbands and wives.
8. High amount of agreement between husbands and wives about religion.

A total of seven of the thirty-one additional variables tested showed significant and positive association with church attendance. These were:
1. Family participation in shopping trips.
2. Husbands often helping wives with work.
3. Frequency of discussion with wives about recreation.
4. Frequency of discussion with wives about politics.
5. Grades of formal education completed. (By husbands)
6. Present house more comfortable than last.
7. Number of magazine subscriptions.

Amount of agreement or disagreement between husbands and wives on specific items, was found to have no significant association with church attendance.
A total of seven variables in the study were found to have corrected coefficient of contingency scores of .40 or above. These were:
1. Family usually attended church together.
2. Husband belonged to three or more church related organizations.
3. Wife belonged to three or more church related organizations.
4. Wife attended church related activities 60 percent or over of the time.
5. Combined "yes" responses concerning family participation averaged 60 percent or over.
6. Husband and wife often discussed religion.
7. Family prayers were held regularly.
The above variables combined and plotted to form a church attendance pedictability index. Although the predictability of three or less variables was not very reliable, when all seven variables were accounted for, the predictability was 95.2 percent.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Sociology

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

1959

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etdm20

Keywords

Mormons, Church participation

Language

English

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