The Correlates and Effectiveness of Partner-Focused Prayer: A Meta-Analysis of Relational Health

Abstract

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the relational health correlates and intervention effects of partner-focused prayer. Database, backward, and forward searches yielded 1,932 works, resulting in the inclusion of 20 correlational and 17 experimental studies. Standard meta-analytic methods were employed for data analysis. Correlational results showed a significant, small-to-medium, heterogeneous association of partner-focused prayer with relational health (n = 20, r =.215, 95% CI [.174,.255], p <.001, I2 = 0.50). Metaregression showed that marital status and age moderated this association, with partner-focused prayer having larger association for older married couples. The results of experiments on partner-focused prayer compared with passive controls showed a significant, medium, homogeneous effect on relational health outcomes (n = 6, d =.474, 95% CI [.263,.686], p <.001, I2 = 0.00). Compared with active controls (e.g., thinking positive thoughts about partner or prayer, not specifically for partner), partner-focused prayer showed a significant, medium, homogeneous effect on relational health outcomes (n = 11, d =.582, 95% CI [.405,.759], p <.001, I = 0.00). Of the relational health outcomes, fostering forgiveness (d =.723) and preventing infidelity (d =.742) were the most affected. Overall, partner-focused prayer holds promise as a simple and effective practice to improve relational health outcomes in close relationships. Future research would benefit from focus on partner-focused prayer with adults of all ages, married samples, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and other participants.

Department(s)

School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences

Document Type

Article

DOI

10.1037/rel0000508

Keywords

forgiveness, marital satisfaction, partner-focused prayer, relational health

Publication Date

9-4-2023

Journal Title

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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