Effect of Marital Status on Positive Psychological Functioning of Young Adults

Abstract

The present paper aimed to investigate the effects of relationship status on positive psychological functioning among adults with different marital statuses. The sample comprised of N = 246Pakistanis, 95 males and 151 females, with their age ranging from 20 – 30 years (M=21.17, SD=3.10). The objectives of the current study were chieved through demographic information form and Positive Psychological Functioning Scales (PPF), which were administered to participants through online channels. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference among different relationship status on positive psychological functioning. The findings of the study showed that different relationship statuses do not have a significant effect on positive psychological functioning, which do not support the current hypothesis, due to the presence of factors such as Pakistan being a collectivistic culture has already a strong social support system existing prior to marriages, also the sample consisted of educated individuals, an uneven sample in terms of gender, also the critical aspect of religion. Factors such as these played a key role in influencing the participants’ positive psychological functioning. The results have important implications for further researches as it opens up the notion that positive psychological functioning in collectivistic cultures may operate according to different principles as compared to individualistic cultures especially where religion is of fundamental importance in the community.