An IPA study about the commitment in Maltese religious and Roman Catholic couples

Abstract

This research focuses on the experience of commitment of Roman Catholic couples who are married and are active in living their faith. Both members of all the couples in this research are in fact committed members of lay people's religious communities. What this study seeks to understand is how religious Roman Catholic couples perceive religion as affecting their commitment towards each other. Rusbult's Investment model from the Social Psychology domain and Psychology of Religion provide the theoretical background for this research. This study hence gives us an in-depth understanding of married couples who live their religious beliefs in a committed and dedicated manner. Eight couples who have been married for ten years and over and who are presently also members of a religious community of people were recruited for this study. Interpretative Phenomenological analysis was chosen as the methodological approach for this study. Semi-structured interviews resulted in thematically analysed transcripts. The participants of this study reported their belief in a marriage which was perceived as being sanctified and a commitment which was double-bound towards their partner and towards God. The perceived presence of God in the marriage and their religious beliefs were paramount to their committed lifestyle, as was their mission to maintain a healthy family environment despite inevitable presence of challenges and conflict. Whilst results from this study replicate findings form the two research domains of Social Psychology and Psychology of Religion it also provides new directions for future research and a better understanding of the Maltese relationships context. The provision of further relationship 'booster' courses by both Government and Church authorities in Malta was one of the recommendations which stems out of this research.