Integrity and fidelity in highly religious marriages

• Published date: 01 July 2024
• Author: Chelom E. Leavitt,Justin J. Hendricks,Rebecca W. Clarke,Loren D. Marks,David C. Dollahite,Andrew H. Rose
• Date: 01 July 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12983

RESEARCH

Integrity and fidelity in highly religious marriages

Chelom E. Leavitt

1

| Justin J. Hendricks

1

| Rebecca W. Clarke

1

|

Loren D. Marks

1

| David C. Dollahite

1

| Andrew H. Rose

2

1

School of Family Life, Brigham Young

University, Provo, UT

2

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and

Social Work, Texas Tech University,

Lubbock, TX

Correspondence Chelom E. Leavitt. Brigham

Young University, 2054 JFSB, Provo, UT

84604, USA.

Email address:

Email: chelom_leavitt@byu.edu

Abstract

Objective: We used qualitative data to evaluate how reli-

gious and interfaith couples may view the influences of

fidelity and/or loyalty on their marriage.

Background: Religion often regulates beliefs surrounding

marriage and sexuality. Religion tends to support fidelity

to marital vows. Previous quantitative studies indicated

that higher religiosity is linked with higher levels of marital

stability and satisfaction.

Method: Using semistructured interviews with 261 married

couples (N=522) who were identified as both religious

and relational exemplars, the potential connections and

processes between religion, relationships, and fidelity or

integrity were examined.

Results: Three core themes emerged from systematic team-

based analyses: (1) integrity and/or fidelity strengthened

marital quality and stability, (2) integrity and/or fidelity

were core marital values and virtues, and (3) religion tau-

ght, developed, and motivated marital integrity and fidel-

ity. Three subthemes were identified under this final

theme: (3a) religious lifestyle, (3b) religious beliefs, and

(3c) commitment to God. Contradictory voices that

expressed and described challenges to marital integrity and

fidelity are presented.

Conclusion: Couples discussed how their faiths’teachings

on integrity and/or fidelity strengthened marital quality

and stability, added to their core marital values and vir-

tues, and motivated marital integrity and/or fidelity

through a religious lifestyle, religious beliefs and morals,

and commitment to God that built commitment and fidel-

ity to spouse.

Implications: Therapists and educators who recognize that

these deeply held values contribute to couples’stability

and satisfaction within their relationship may be able to

Author note: The data sets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Received: 3 March 2023 Revised: 3 October 2023 Accepted: 5 November 2023

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12983

© 2023 National Council on Family Relations.

2134 Family Relations. 2024;73:2134–2151.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare

ask, understand, and harness religious strengths to facili-

tate commonalities and satisfaction.

KEYWORDS

fidelity, infidelity, integrity, marital satisfaction, relational satisfaction,

religious couples

Fidelity within a marriage is generally considered to include physical and emotional commit-

ment and dedication to a partner (Leonard, 2020) and most agree that fidelity is needed to cre-

ate a stable, lasting marriage (Dollahite & Lambert, 2007). Whereas strong marriages appear to

be built on fidelity, low-quality marriages tend to suffer from a lack of fidelity, and/or lackluster

relationships might even contribute to lower levels of fidelity. For example, Previti and Amato

(2004) found that most individuals that form extramarital relations do so after their current

relationship seems likely to end in divorce. Recent research confirmed this finding and showed

that infidelity increased the likelihood of marriage dissolution within 2 years (Labrecque &

Whisman, 2020). Research also indicated that infidelity can include a number of behaviors and

does not necessarily need to include an extradyadic partner (Thompson & O’Sullivan, 2016).

Thompson and O’Sullivan’s(

2016) research questioned the typically held belief that fidelity is

simply refraining from a physical relationship outside of the marriage (extradyadic) and they

reported that for some, fidelity includes a sense of integrity represented by not engaging in

behaviors outside of the partner’s knowledge. This expanded view of infidelity and fidelity sug-

gests that integrity is an important aspect of a couple’s relationship experience. Although previ-

ous work has examined whether these virtues are associated with marital outcomes, this study

aims to address how religion may inform a person’s idea of fidelity and integrity and how those

views might play out in their marriage.

Connection between fidelity and integrity

Marital fidelity appears to be conceptually related to marital integrity. The origin of the word

integrity stems from the idea of whole or undivided (Oxford, n.d.). Within a marital relation-

ship, integrity would include fidelity in its typically held interpretation of refraining from a

physical relationship outside of the marriage, but it may also include the broader understanding

that integrity is a part of fidelity (Thompson and O’Sullivan, 2016).

Religion often regulates beliefs surrounding marriage and sexuality, and typically supports

fidelity to marital vows (Allsop et al., 2021). Because practicing believers often aim to align

their actions with religious belief in order to live with a sense of integrity (Bou-Habib, 2020),

observing fidelity in marriage is often a matter of integrity for religious individuals. In fact, the

qualities of integrity and fidelity in marriage are so closely intertwined that they might be con-

sidered twin virtues.

Researchers have long noted the conceptual overlap between marital integrity and fidelity.

Kaslow and Robison (1996) explained, “intrapersonal fidelity and integrity are also expressed

as a sense of loyalty to the spouse and include the expectation of reciprocity”(p. 166). These

twin virtues are closely related; marital fidelity often refers to emotional and sexual exclusivity,

and marital integrity is understood to provide the impetus to live in a whole and undivided rela-

tionship. Indeed, this connection between fidelity and integrity was revealed in Thompson and

O’Sullivan’s(

2016) study by participants who included some solitary or online behavior as infi-

delity likely because it weakened the sense of unity or created a division within the relationship.

For many couples these two qualities likely overlap and inform each other.

INTEGRITY AND FIDELITY 2135