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Religious Support, Motives for Having Large Families, and Psychological Functioning Among Religious Jewish Mothers

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Abstract

The effects of religious support, maternal motivations for having large families, and their interactions on psychological functioning were assessed in a sample of 79 religious Israeli Jewish mothers of six or more children. Religious support from religious leaders, community, and G-d—as well as faith-focused maternal motivation—were all positively related to adaptive psychological functioning. In contrast, self-focused maternal motivation was negatively related to adaptive functioning. Moreover, religious support and maternal motivation were both related to psychological functioning even after controlling for social support. Finally, several significant interactions between religious support and maternal motivation emerged and are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 180 North Oakland Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, USA

    Jeffery P. Bjorck

  2. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University Center of Samaria, Ariel, Israel

    Aryeh Lazar

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  1. Jeffery P. Bjorck
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  2. Aryeh Lazar
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Correspondence to Jeffery P. Bjorck.

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Bjorck, J.P., Lazar, A. Religious Support, Motives for Having Large Families, and Psychological Functioning Among Religious Jewish Mothers. J Relig Health 50, 177–194 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-009-9294-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-009-9294-2

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