The Impact of Spiritual and Cultural Beliefs on Family Relationships and Marital Satisfaction in Religious Communities: A Systematic Review

Recognizing and examining the factors that contribute to the strength and stability of families can be a beneficial step towards improving the quality of life and mental well-being of individuals in society.

The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the impact of spiritual and cultural beliefs on family relationships and marital satisfaction in religious communities.

This systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA statement in January 2025, using the keywords “healthy family,” “marital satisfaction,” “spiritual health,” “religious communities,” “spiritual and cultural beliefs,” and “family relationships” in the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, ISC, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering the period from 2010 to 2024. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), with a full-text review conducted by two independent authors.

Eleven studies were reviewed. The findings indicated that religious and spiritual beliefs facilitate coping mechanisms, increase marital satisfaction, and improve mental health. Cultural and religious contexts significantly influence the effectiveness of interventions and educational programs for marital satisfaction. Islamic principles and religious education can improve marital adjustment, reduce distress, and enhance resilience in families. Socio-demographic factors and religious commitment are important predictors of marital satisfaction and family well-being.

Couples with greater spiritual and cultural health experience higher marital satisfaction and better family relationships. While the findings cover important relationships, the study is limited by the small number of included studies and focuses on English and Persian language publications.