Covid-19 and Marital Dissolution in West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

The most common reason for divorce in West Java, Indonesia, shifted from financial difficulties prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to marital conflicts throughout the outbreak. A theoretical explanation of the rising percentage of couple fight was required to inform predictions about how the present pandemic might damage the couple's relationship and avert marital dissolution. The narrative study used a conceptual framework that combined the family stress model and the stress divorce model to postulate that couples who were already vulnerable prior to the pandemic were more likely to experience relationship instability and, eventually, marital dissolution after being exposed to inherent pandemic risks. Couple relationship stability during the pandemic could be achieved by the development of a positive dyadic coping strategy. A coordinated couple task allocation and high-quality communication among each other were crucial in fostering bonadaptation and resilience in a married relationship. Future research can use quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the underlying cause of the change in the primary reason for divorce during the pandemic.