The development and maintenance of social skills are influenced by many factors, including faiths and norms. Since, as a rule, religious faith regulates social behavior which includes relationships between spouses, the influence of religious affiliation on social skills is evaluated. Seventy-four couples (Catholic, Presbyterians and no religious affiliation) completed the Marital Social Skills Inventory (MSSI) and a personal data form. Catholic and Presbyterians also answered a questionnaire in which they showed their religious knowledge and another one where they were asked to establish their churches’ principles with regard to marital social skills. Results showed that: (1) the three groups presented no difference either in social skills indicators or in the influence of variables related to religious practice; (2) religious associations linked marital social skills more to common sense concepts than to religious teachings; 3) Presbyterians gave more importance to marital social skills than to religious teachings. Religious teaching may not be a determinant factor of marital social skills.
Marital social skills; religion affiliation; marriage
