Fehring, R. J., & Manhart, M. D. (2021). Natural Family Planning and Marital Chastity: The Effects of Periodic Abstinence on Marital Relationships. The Linacre Quarterly, 88(1), 42-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0024363920930875
Fehring RJ, Manhart MD. Natural Family Planning and Marital Chastity: The Effects of Periodic Abstinence on Marital Relationships. Linacre Q. 2021;88(1):42-55. doi:10.1177/0024363920930875
Fehring, Richard J., and Michael D. Manhart. "Natural Family Planning and Marital Chastity: The Effects of Periodic Abstinence on Marital Relationships." The Linacre Quarterly, vol. 88, no. 1, 2021, pp. 42-55.
Natural family planning was associated with lower odds of divorce
Among ever-married US women, ever-users of natural family planning had lower odds of divorce or separation. The finding comes from a literature review and a national survey analysis. The divorce-only rate was about 14 out of 100 among ever-users of natural family planning, compared with about 22 out of 100 among ever-users of condoms.
Key Findings
In the final regression, odds of divorce or separation were lower among women with ever-use of natural family planning, a category that included rhythm (odds ratio 0.69; 95 percent confidence interval 0.54–0.86).
Divorce-only rates among ever-users were 14.1 percent for natural family planning, 22.5 percent for oral contraceptive pills (suppressive medications), 21.9 percent for condoms and 28.3 percent for female sterilization.
Ever-use of oral contraceptive pills, female sterilization and condoms was associated with higher odds of ever cohabiting: odds ratios 1.61 (95 percent CI 1.27–2.02), 1.74 (1.38–2.19) and 2.66 (1.93–3.68).
Ever-use of natural family planning showed lower odds of cohabitation short of statistical significance. Women who attended church frequently showed lower odds of divorce or separation and of cohabitation.
In the literature review, between 60 percent and 85 percent of men and women using natural family planning perceived that periodic abstinence and the method had helped their marriage.
Interpretation
The study analyzes interviews from the 2015–2017 National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative US survey, and pairs them with a literature review. The women were ever-married and of reproductive age. Each reported her family planning history and marital status at one point in time. The regression models also entered church attendance, importance of religion, education and poverty level. The authors note that the survey recorded ever-use of natural family planning, and that consistent use might have an even greater effect. They call for prospective studies that follow family planning use and divorce over time.
RRM Context
Fertility awareness-based methods teach couples to read the signs of fertility in the cycle. Knowledge of these signs informs couples who are trying to achieve or to avoid pregnancy. The authors propose judging these methods by their effect on the marital bond as well as by how well they help couples avoid pregnancy. They suggest future studies that involve husband and wife together, which matches the couple-centered approach of restorative reproductive medicine.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Marital chastity is the practice of periodic abstinence with use of natural family planning (NFP). The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the most common methods of contraception (female sterilization, oral contraceptive pills, and condoms) and NFP on divorce/separation and cohabitation rates among reproductive age women. The study involved an extensive review of the literature on the effects of practice of NFP on marital dynamics and a statistical analysis of 2,550 ever-married women in the (2015-2017) National Survey of Family Growth data set. Importance of religion and frequency of church attendance were included in the analysis. With ever-use of NFP, 14 percent were divorced or separated, and 27 percent to 39 percent were divorced or separated with ever-use of oral contraceptive pills. Stepwise logistic regression indicated that ever-use of contraception was associated with increased odds of divorce or separation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; confidence interval [CI]: 1.96-2.49) and cohabitation (2.95, CI: 2.20-3.95). Ever-use of NFP yielded 58 percent lower odds for divorce or separation. Frequent church attendance was associated with lower odds of divorce or separation and cohabitation. Although there are lower odds of divorce among NFP users, the reason might be due to their religiosity.
Summary
This study showed that ever-use of natural family planning (NFP) among ever-married women was associated with 58 percent lower odds of divorce than among women who never-used NFP. Ever-use of contraceptive methods was associated with two times the odds of divorce and four times for cohabitation compared to those women who never-used those methods. Use of periodic abstinence with NFP is the practice of marital chastity and is thought to strengthen the marital relationship.
