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Relationship between Religious Beliefs and Marital Commitment in Young Couples: The Mediating Role of Gender Expectations
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Maryam Sayad Shirazi *   , Parivash Gorji |
| Department of Psychology, Women Research Center, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran , ma.sayad@alzahra.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (7 Views) |
Background and Aim: Marriage, as the core nucleus of the family, plays a decisive role in the health and stability of societies, and marital commitment is the strongest predictor of relationship stability. Religious beliefs are considered among the factors influencing marital commitment; however, the mechanism of this relationship, particularly the role of gender expectations in young Iranian couples situated at the intersection of tradition and modernity, has been less explored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of gender expectations in the relationship between religious beliefs and marital commitment among young couples in Tehran.
Methods: This descriptive correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all young couples residing in Tehran during the years 2024–2025, aged 20 to 35 years, who had been cohabiting for at least five years. Using convenience sampling, 300 couples (600 individuals) were selected. Research instruments included the Janbozorgi Religious Adherence Questionnaire, the Adams and Jones Marital Commitment Questionnaire, and the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Data were collected through a combination of field and online methods and were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, path analysis, and the Sobel test in AMOS software.
Results: Results showed that religious adherence had a significant positive relationship with both marital commitment (0.094) and gender role (0.270); religious ambivalence had a significant negative relationship with gender role (-0.760) and marital commitment (-0.498); religious non-adherence had a significant positive relationship with gender role (0.332) and a significant negative relationship with marital commitment (-0.524). Gender role also demonstrated a significant negative relationship with marital commitment (-0.143). Fit indices of the modified model indicated a good fit. The Sobel test results showed that gender expectations played a significant mediating role in the relationship between all three components of religious beliefs (adherence, non-adherence, and ambivalence) and marital commitment (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Religious beliefs influence the marital commitment of young couples both directly and indirectly through the shaping of gender expectations. Traditional gender expectations bear a negative relationship with marital commitment, and their modification can contribute to strengthening marital stability. Accordingly, family counselors and therapists should, in premarital education programs and couple therapy interventions, not only reinforce constructive religious beliefs but also identify and modify maladaptive gender expectations. |
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| Keywords: Gender Expectations, Religious Beliefs, Marital Commitment |
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Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Spiritual Health
Received: 2025/12/20 | Accepted: 2026/05/4 | Published: 2026/06/20
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