"Whatever God Has Yoked Together, Let No Man Put Apart:" the Effect of Religion on Black Marriages

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how religion strengthened the marriages of African American (or Black) couples. This topic is important for three reasons. First, both historically and contemporaneously, religion has enhanced the financial, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of African Americans (Chaney, 2008a; 2008b; Billingsley, 1992; Taylor, Chatters, & Levin, 2004). Second, when compared to other races. Blacks have the lowest rate of marriage, the highest rate of divorce, and are most likely to rear their children in single parent homes (African-American Healthy Marriage Initiative, n.d., Chaney, 2011; 2009). To put this in perspective, married couples head 76% of American families, while African American married couples head only 47.9% of American families. In addition, while the overall rate for single parent households in America has increased for all children, it is especially alarming among African Americans as 69% of African American births are currently to single mothers as compared to 33% nationally (African American Healthy Marriage Initiative, n.d). The current family structure of African Americans has been linked to several factors. In particular, the legacy of slavery, racial discrimination, male unemployment, underemployment, seasonal employment, high rates of incarceration, and poverty (Chaney, 2011; Blackman, Clayton, Glenn, Malone-Colon, & Roberts, 2005; Patterson, 1998; Wilson, 1996) have been found to weaken Black marriages and increase the likelihood that these marriages will end. Last, given the increasing amount of attention that has been given to supporting Black marriages, most notably through the African American Healthy Marriage Initiative (AAHMI), whose primary goal is "to promote and strengthen the institution of healthy marriage in the African American community," (http://www.aahmi.net/ mission.html) this study can help further the goals of policy by increasing and strengthening the number of Black marriages in America through the vantage point of religion. The aforementioned policy goal is important as the majority of African Americans desire marriage (Chaney, 2014; Chaney, Stamps Mitchell, & Barker, 2014; Dixon, 2009; Johnson, 2012; Taylor, Jackson, & Chatters, 1997; Vaterlaus, Skogrand, & Chaney, 2015), yet are unable to establish and maintain stable marriages. In the section that follows, we highlight key studies related to the relationship between religion and marital stability. Next, we will discuss the methodology that was used in the current study. After this, we will feature the marital perspectives of three couples from this study. Then, we will present the qualitative findings of our study. Lastly, we will discuss the implications of this study for research, practice, and policy. Review of Literature Historically, religious institutions have played a central role in marriage and families (Baucom, 2001; Booth, Johnson, Branaman, & Sica, 1995; Marks et al., 2010; Christiano, 2000; Hill, 1968; Marks, 2005; Marks & Chaney, 2006; Pargament & Maton, 2000; Uecker, 2014; Wilcox & Wolfinger, 2007; Wilson & Musick, 1995; Witte, 2012). Over four decades ago, renowned Black scholar, Robert Hill (1968), identified five strengths of Black families in America, namely (1) a strong religious orientation; (2) a high aspiration rate: aspirations to achieve more than they "ought" to aspire considering situation; (3) role exchange: women are not afraid to support the family if men are not able; (4) kinship circle: extended family in the black community; and (5) willingness to work. Notably, during a time when African American's access to several institutions (e.g., schools, churches, and businesses) was restricted, the Black Church provided for the material, emotional, and spiritual needs of congregants and members of the community (Taylor & Chatters, 1998). Moreover, religion has been instrumental in the establishment of romantic relationships. …