Forsaking All Others: Marital Fidelity in Religious Couples

Authors

Nathaniel M. Lambert, Brigham Young University
Dr. David C. Dollahite, Brigham Young University

Keywords

marital fidelity, religious couples, sexual infidelity, affair, marriage

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

Abstract

This study reports results from in-depth interviews with 57 highly religious middle-aged married couples from all the major Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism) from New England and Northern California. The study uses grounded theory methods to create themes and a model describing the ways that religious couples draw on their beliefs and practices to stay faithful to their marital. Couples reported that religion affects their level of faithfulness in 4 important ways: 1) Religion fortifies marital commitment; 2) Religion strengthens moral values; 3) Religion improves one’s relationship with God; 4) Religion sanctifies marriage.

Recommended Citation

Lambert, Nathaniel M. and Dollahite, Dr. David C. (2013) "Forsaking All Others: Marital Fidelity in Religious Couples," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 220.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/220