Shielded by Faith: Family Stress Theory and the Impact of Religion on Newlywed Marital Conflict Resolution

This study examines how religiosity may moderate the association between marital conflict frequency/severity and the quality of conflict resolution during the early years of marriage. Using family stress theory, we propose that religiosity may act as a resilient resource and perception, buffering against the negative effects of marital conflict. Our results were that women with higher religiosity tend to report better conflict resolution, even in high-conflict situations, compared to those with lower religiosity. Our findings could help address the gap in understanding how religious couples achieve greater stability, particularly in the vulnerable early years, thereby informing future strategies for fostering relationship resilience and long-term marital quality.