Randall, Claire (2010) Optimism and Religiosity as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The association between religiosity and marital satisfaction has been repeatedly demonstrated, but few studies have examined the relationship between the extrinsic and intrinsic constructs of religiosity and marital satisfaction. Additionally, previous research involving the personality trait of optimism has primarily focused on health outcomes. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between optimism, both intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity, and marital satisfaction. This study also investigated the contributions of all three variables in the prediction of marital satisfaction. A convenience sample of 88 participants (26 males and 62 females), aged between 25 and 67 years, completed the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS; Spanier, 1976) was used to assess marital satisfaction, the Life Orientation Test – Revised (LOT-R; Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994) was used to measure dispositional optimism, and the Religious Orientation Scale – Revised (I-E/R; Gorusch & McPherson, 1989) was used to measure intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation. Analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between optimism and marital satisfaction. No significant correlations were found between marital satisfaction and the religiosity measures. Hierarchical regression analysis found that the variables of optimism, extrinsic religiosity and intrinsic religiosity did not contribute significantly to the prediction of marital satisfaction scores, after controlling for the variable of gender. Examination of gender differences found that for males, higher scores of optimism were significantly correlated with higher scores of marital satisfaction. For females, a significant negative correlation was found between optimism and the DAS subscale of affectional expression. Results of the current research suggest that optimism may serve as an enduring resource for married couples. Specific counselling interventions are suggested which may assist less optimistic individuals to improve the quality of their marriages, thereby reducing the likelihood of divorce. Future research which incorporates intact couples and longitudinal designs may provide more understanding of the role that optimism plays in contributing to marital satisfaction. Additionally, continued research into the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and marital satisfaction is encouraged, using an evenly matched sample size of males and females.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Passmore, Nola |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Psychology) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2026 01:38 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2026 01:38 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52683 |
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