The Impact of Racial Identity and Level of Religiosity on Marital Satisfaction Among African American Married Couples

Abstract

The current study examined marital satisfaction and determined if racial identity or level of religiosity had an impact overall on marital satisfaction among married African American couples. The following instruments were used to measure marital satisfaction, racial identity, level of religiosity, and social desirability: the Marital Satisfaction Inventory- Revised (Snyder, 1997), Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (Sellers, Rowley, Chavous, Shelton, & Smith, 1998), Religious Life Inventory (Batson, Schoenrade & Ventis, 1993), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Reynolds, 1982). The majority of the 140 participants consisted of married couples recruited from three major Christian churches in Philadelphia, a local insurance company, and from multiple community based organizations. Results indicate that no single factor alone is predictive of marital satisfaction but a combination of factors produced a moderately significant multiple correlation. Significant relationships were found among marital satisfaction and the following factors: number of children, multiple subscales on the MIBI, and the external subscale on the Religious Life Inventory. Couples who had more children reported higher levels of marital satisfaction. Results also showed a significant relationship between marital satisfaction in couples who had similar views on racial identity when subscales were used as the sole measure of marital satisfaction and racial identity. Finally, there was a significant relationship between couples who report higher levels of marital satisfaction and also use religion as a means to satisfy their own needs through socialization, etc.