ABSTRACT
Throughout this book we have been focusing on the many factors that influence the marriage relationship in Christiantown. Despite what critics may say, Christiantowners, on the whole, experience above-average levels of marital happiness and adjustment. 1 It is possible that this reflects in part their success in other areas. As we have noted, Christiantowners enjoy above-average levels of income, education, occupational status, and home ownership — the kinds of advantages which many assume make up “the good life.” 2 However impressive these overall averages appear, it is important to keep in mind that our Christiantown respondents manifest a fair amount of diversity, not only in education, income, and occupational status, but also in religiosity and quality of their marriage. This diversity has permitted us to investigate how variations in one area, e.g., occupational status, correspond to variations in other areas, e.g., marital happiness and marital adjustment.
