Dissertation
Mixed-faith transitions: exploring the adaptation process and spiritual coping of latter-day saints after a spousal disaffiliation
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Autumn 2025
DOI: 10.25820/etd.008219
Abstract
In an era of frequent religious disaffiliation, married couples originating in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints increasingly transition to from same-faith dyads to a “mixed-faith” marriage after one spouse leave the faith while the other remains, requiring a transformation of the relationship system to accommodate an expansion of needs and beliefs. While disaffiliation research increases, little has explored the relational consequences of disaffiliation within a marriage context, and none have specifically inquired into the experience of the Latter-day Saint “believing spouse” of mixed-faith marriages.
This dissertation contains two studies on the subject—one as a qualitative inquiry of 13 semi-structured interviews on the experiences of believing Latter-day Saint spouses, the other a quantitative analysis of the connection between spiritual distress from spousal disaffiliation and subsequent levels of individual and relational adaptation, in addition to potential correlations of the use of religious resources throughout the process, including internal and external spiritual coping, and potential changes in religious participation, beliefs, and faith development.
Findings reflect elevated levels of individual and relational distress after a spouse’s disaffiliation. While changes to religious participation and beliefs were found unrelated to distress or adaptation, an expansion of meaning-making to accept divergent faith journeys through relational and personal growth was found. Believing spouses who turned toward their spouse in their use of religious resources, such as forgiveness and spiritual intimacy, experienced higher adaptation than those who used religious resources to turn away from their spouse through resentment, avoidance, and moral superiority.
Implications for future research and recommendations for mixed-faith couples and their support systems, including therapists and religious leaders, are given.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Mixed-faith transitions: exploring the adaptation process and spiritual coping of latter-day saints after a spousal disaffiliation
- Creators
- Chelsea Lillywhite Cheney
- Contributors
- Jacob B. Priest (Advisor)Ariel Aloe (Advisor)Kayla Reed-Fitzke (Committee Member)Kristy Nabhan-Warren (Committee Member)Amanda Case (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Psychological and Quantitative Foundations (Couple and Family Therapy)
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2025
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.008219
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- x, 144 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Chelsea Lillywhite Cheney
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 12/08/2025
- Description illustrations
- illustrations, tables
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 107-121).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
- The sharing of beliefs in marriage is of primary importance for Latter-day Saints, in which beliefs are often integral to relationships and everyday life. For believing spouses who no longer share beliefs in marriage after the other spouse leaves the church, the relationship transitions to what is called a "mixed-faith marriage." This dissertation includes two studies that explore the adaptation of Latter-day Saint spouses to mixed-faith marriages. The first study identifies themes from interviewing thirteen Latter-day Saints in mixed-faith marriages. Elevated levels of distress upon a spouse s religious exit were found, and resources used to cope with the change were identified, which facilitated making new meanings to view the struggle as an opportunity for growth and to turn toward their spouse to navigate changing needs together. Recommendations for mixed-faith couples, therapists, and religious leaders are given. The second study analyzes results of a survey completed by 192 Latter-day Saints currently in a mixed-faith marriage. Initial levels of distress from their spouse leaving the church and any changes to religious participation and beliefs were all found to be unrelated to current levels of adaptation to the mixed-faith status. Spiritual resources that were related to adaption included increased levels of faith development that supported their spouse s journey, and utilizing spiritual behaviors such as forgiveness rather than moral superiority were more related to adaptation than turning toward their faith without also exhibiting positive interactions with their spouse.
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
- Record Identifier
- 9985135348902771
Metrics
1 Record Views