Date of Award

Fall 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

College of Education

Department

Department of Education

Primary Advisor

Dr. Sarah J. Yates

Second Advisor

Dr. Thomas J. Gollery

Third Advisor

Dr. Lisa A. Coscia

Abstract

This quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study evaluated factors associated with and predictive of marital health. Marital health was identified as a more holistic evaluator of marital connection and commitment, moving beyond individual satisfaction. The original sample was taken from the archived Marriage Health in America survey data. The sample included 3,808 United States adults. Participants completed a marital satisfaction index and a marital health measure, while simultaneously ranking 32 identified factors of marital health. The results found that love for each other was the strongest predictor of marital health, followed by communication through listening, respect, trust, and sexual intimacy. These findings underscore the importance of each factor in fostering healthy marriages.


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