This research examines the effects of the length of unemployment or underemployment, economic strain, and religious affiliation/belief on marital satisfaction. The research was guided by ecological, systems, and family stress theories. The sample consisted of 100 participants who were unemployed-or underemployed and/or had a spouse who was un-or underemployed. All participants attended church sponsored job seeker groups throughout Southeastern Michigan. Through self-report, participants classified themselves and/or their spouses as un-or underemployed and reported on the length of time. Survey measures assessed the above variables and gathered demographic data. Three hypotheses were examined: (a) The instance of unemployment or underemployment (since an individual felt they were fully employed) will have a direct effect on marital satisfaction, (b) Unemployment or underemployment will have an indirect effect on marital satisfaction through perceived economic strain, and (c) Religious affiliation/belief will buffer, or moderate the mediating effects of economic strain on marital satisfaction. Findings from the current study were consistent with much of the previous research. Economic strain directly affected marital satisfaction as well as meditated the relationship between length of un-or underemployment and marital satisfaction. Religious affiliation/belief directly affected marital satisfaction and moderated the mediated relationship between economic strain and marital satisfaction.
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