Dimensions of Religious Ontology in Inner Speech of Religious Couples with High Marital Adjustment

The aim of the present study is to determine the dimensions of religious ontology in inner speech of religious couples with high marital adjustment. This was a qualitative study using semi-structured deep interview for 11 couples (11 wives and 11 husbands) with high marital adjustment. The couples were selected by purposeful sampling till data saturation was reached. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data obtained from interviews. Data analysis revealed that religious ontology helped religious couples consider their marital relationship as a holy bound established by God to reach certain goals. Religious ontology yielded positive marital consequences in three direct ways and in one indirect way. Direct ways of religious ontology in couples were belief in God’s presence and surveillance in marital life, observation of religious practices, and belief in God’s help in marital life. The indirect influence of the religious ontology for couples was following the practice and the style of marital life of holy prophet of Islam (PBUH) and the Fourteen Infallibles (AS). Through these processes, religious ontology leads to peace, satisfaction, faithfulness as well as financial and spiritual perfection. Findings also showed that religious ontology positively influences marital life and can be used to develop a model for improving marital satisfaction by changing the ontology styles of the couples.