Citation

Waite LJ, Lehrer EL. Popul. Dev. Rev. 2003; 29(2): 255-275.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Population Council, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the United States, married people have better outcomes on a variety of measures of well-being than do single persons. People who participate in religious activities show similar advantages relative to those who have no religious involvement. This article presents a comparative analysis of these two social institutions: marriage and religion. A critical review of the literature on how religious involvement and being married affect a range of child and adult outcomes provides evidence of generally positive effects. Religion and marriage have an impact on many of the same domains of life, and there are remarkable similarities in the mechanisms through which they exert an influence. Domestic violence.