Religiosity and Spirituality’s Influence on Closeness in Romantic Relationships

1. Religiosity and Spirituality’s Influence on Closeness in Romantic Relationships Ally Cooke, Kate Eipl, & Rachel Jacobs Hanover College • “Almost every single aspect of human behavior and development takes place in the context of relationships” • Regan 2011

2. Religiosity and Spirituality • Religiosity • the aspects of one’s religious activity, dedication, and belief • Shafranske& Gorsuch 1984 • Spirituality • the transcendent dimension within the human experience, discovered in moments in which the individual questions the meaning of personal existence and attempts to place the self within a broader ontological context • Shafranske& Gorsuch 1984

3. Closeness in Relationships • Closeness in a romantic relationship can be thought of as subjective and defined as the state where partners feel close, connected, or bonded to one another • Regan 2011 • Components of Closeness • Attachment • Intimacy • Self-disclosure • Commitment

4. Closeness and Religiosity and Spirituality • Closeness is a characteristic within romantic relationships. • Regan 2011 • Religion has been shown to have an effect on romantic relationships • Wolfinger 2010 • It is important to study how one’s faith effects closeness in relationships because religious ideologies have been found to influence relationships. • Regan 2011

5. Hypothesis Participants who are more religious and/or spiritual will be closer with their romantic partner than participants who are not religious/spiritual.

6. Method: Participants • 120 participants in a committed relationship • 92 females; 28 males • Ages 18-60 • Obtained on the web

7. Method: Religiosity/Spirituality Measures • Religiosity was measured using the Religion and Me Survey (RAMS) • Altermatt, 1995 • Pilot Study α= .931, N = 15 • This was reduced from the original 25 questions • Spirituality was measured using the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale • Hodge 2003 • Pilot Study α = .914, N = 5 • This was reduced from the original 6 questions

8. Method: Closeness Measures • Attachment style was gauged using The Experiences in Close Relationships scale • Liao 2008 • Pilot Study α = .811, N = 17 • This was reduced from the original 35 questions • Self-Disclosure was measured using the Self-Disclosure Index • Miller, Berg, & Archer 1983 • Pilot Study α = .936, N = 6 • This was reduced from the original 10 questions • Intimacy Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love • Sternberg 1990 • Pilot Study α = .941, N = 10 • This was reduced from the original 12 questions • Commitment Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love • Sternberg 1990 • Pilot Study α = .950, N = 8 • This was reduced from the original 12 questions

9. Method: Procedure • Survey was placed on psych2.hanover.edu • Participants were given informed consent • Participants completed survey • Participants were debriefed

10. Scale Reliabilities • Religiosity and Spirituality • Religiosity- α = .878, N = 15 • Spirituality- α = .931, N = 5 • Closeness • Attachment- α= .907, N = 17 • Intimacy-α = .914, N =10 • Commitment- α= .920, N = 8 • Self-Disclosure- α = .773, N = 6

11. Results: All Participants Attachment vs. Religiosity All Participants Attachment vs. Spirituality All Participants r = -.189 p < .05 r = -.099 p > .05

12. Results: Women Commitment vs. Religiosity Commitment vs. Spirituality r = .196 p > .05 r = .237 p < .05

13. Results: Women • Components of Closeness for Women

14. Results: Men • Components of Closeness for Men

15. Discussion • Religiosity is statistically significant for all participants with attachment • It is a very weak relationship • None of the other components were statistically significant with religiosity/spirituality overall. • Possible competition for attachment between religion and romantic partner • Lack of attachment figure • For women, spirituality is statistically significantly correlated with commitment • Spiritual women have higher levels of commitment because of the transfer of personal dedication to the relationship

16. Discussion cont’d. • Self-Disclosure and Attachment correlated only for women • Different uses of language • Women more likely to self-disclose when they are highly attached • Men do not readily share personal information • Intimacy and Self-Disclosure correlated only for men • Intimacy creates a feeling of closeness • Women are eager to share information in the beginning of the relationship • Differences between intimacy and attachment for men • Physical intimacy versus emotional attachment

17. Limitations • Small sample size of men • Attachment scale did not measure attachment, but instead fear of abandonment • Ceiling effects

18. Future Research • Further investigation of feelings of attachment to higher being/significant other • Examine behavioral closeness in relation to religiosity and spirituality • Study how different attachment styles change with differing levels of spirituality and religiosity • Ask both partners in relationship to complete survey

19. Questions?