Religious spouses keep relationship stronger

According to the study, adolescents who attend religious services with one or both of their parents are more likely to feel greater well-being.

Annette Mahoney, PhD, of Bowling Green State University, and Annamarie Cano, PhD, of Wayne State University, these studies exemplify an emerging subfield called relational spirituality, which focuses on the ways that diverse couples and families can rely on specific spiritual beliefs and behaviors, for better or worse, to motivate them to create, maintain and transform their intimate relationships.

The researchers said that the studies present rigorous research into the roles that religion and spirituality can play in enhancing family well-being.

The research was studies published in two SPECIAL sections of APA's Journal of Family Psychology.