Comparison of spiritual health and religious marital style in ordinary couples, religious science student couples, and couples applying for divorce

Considering the ever-increasing number of divorces in the country and the province and considering the importance of the issue of spiritual health and religious marital style, present study was conducted with the aim of comparing spiritual health and religious marital style in ordinary couples, students of religious sciences, and couples applying for divorce.

The present descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 150 couples who referred to health clinics, Shahrekord seminary and counseling centers of welfare and justice organization and prison affairs of Shahrekord city. Participants were divided into three groups: 1- the group of normal couples, 2- the group of religious science student couples, 3- the group of couples applying for divorce, and the questionnaire of spiritual health and religious marital style was provided to them. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 statistical software.

In present study, there wasn’t significant difference between the average age of couples, average duration of marriage and average number of children, education of couples, and occupation of spouses in the three groups (P ≤ 0.05). The results of the present study showed that the spiritual health score of all women in the three groups were 164±0.12, 170±13.73 and 168.10±19.63 respectively, and there was no significant difference (p=0.146), But in the level of overall spiritual health in the spouses in the three groups, 160.71±15.96, 175.47±12.62, and 163.64±25.34 respectively, and difference was significant (P<0.000). Also, in the comparison of the total religious marital style level, women in three groups are 145.75±14.95, 148.41±19.85 and 128.78±29.82 respectively, the difference was significant (P<0.000).  But in spouses, which were 123.38±22.89, 123.66±23.25 and 122.30±20.95 respectively, the difference wasn’t significant (p=0.949).

Based on results, planners should consider the design of training programs based on improving the spiritual health and religious marital style of married couples.