The Relationship Between Religiosity and Marriage From Emerging to Established Adulthood

Silverstein, Merril; Hwang, Woosang; Kim, Jeung-Hyun; Yoon, Joonsik; Vasilenko, Sara A.

doi:10.1007/s10804-022-09416-5

Published: 02 July 2022

The Relationship Between Religiosity and Marriage From Emerging to Established Adulthood

Merril Silverstein ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9857-2231¹,
Woosang Hwang²,
Jeung-Hyun Kim³,
Joonsik Yoon⁴ &
Sara A. Vasilenko⁵

Journal of Adult Development (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

This investigation examined the relationship between religiosity and marriage across a period of life marked by the transition from emerging adulthood and established adulthood. While many studies have established a positive link between religiosity and marriage, little longitudinal research has been conducted to prospectively predict one from the other. Using data from 290 young adults participating in the Longitudinal Study of Generations in 2000 and 2016, we applied latent class analysis to identify three religious classes at both periods based on religious attendance, intensity, attitudes, spirituality, and beliefs. We then used these classes as leading predictors of later marriage and as outcomes predicted by earlier marriage. We found statistically significant relationships between stronger religiosity and greater likelihood of marriage and between marriage and stronger religiosity in the transition from emerging to established adulthood. Significantly larger effects in both directions were observed for men than for women. We conclude that while both religiosity and marriage have declined in the population, an increasingly narrow but distinctive subset of individuals simultaneously maintain traditional religious orientations and a proclivity to marry by established adulthood. Future research on this topic and implications for clergy are discussed.

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Funding

The funded was provided by John Templeton Foundation, National Institute on Aging (Grant No: R01-AG07977).

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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Human Development and Family Science, Department of Sociology, Aging Studies Institute, Lyman Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
Merril Silverstein
Aging Studies Institute, Lyman Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
Woosang Hwang
Department of Sociology, Aging Studies Institute, Lyman Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
Jeung-Hyun Kim
Social Science Program, Aging Studies Institute, Lyman Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
Joonsik Yoon
Department of Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
Sara A. Vasilenko

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Merril Silverstein
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Woosang Hwang
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Jeung-Hyun Kim
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Joonsik Yoon
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Sara A. Vasilenko
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Correspondence to Merril Silverstein.

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Silverstein, M., Hwang, W., Kim, JH. et al. The Relationship Between Religiosity and Marriage From Emerging to Established Adulthood. J Adult Dev (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-022-09416-5

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Accepted: 08 June 2022
Published: 02 July 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-022-09416-5

Keywords

Religiosity
Marriage
Emerging adulthood
Established adulthood
Longitudinal