Marital adjustment, convergent communication patterns, and psychological distress in women with early and late marriage

Abstract

Early marriage among women is prevalent in Pakistan and is linked with a number of negative health outcomes. This study aimed to determine significant differences in marital adjustment, convergent communication patterns, and psychological distress in Pakistani women with early and late marriages. Further, it investigated the predictors of psychological distress in married women of Pakistan. Cross sectional design was used to select the sample of 100 women (50 with early marriage; 50 with late marriage) from Lahore, Pakistan. Marital Adjustment test (Locke & Wallace Marriage and Family Living, 21(3), 251–255, 1959), The Convergence Communication scale (Miller-Day & Jackson Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29(8), 1036-1057, 2012) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale- K10 (Kessler et al. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 959-976, 2002) were administered. Results revealed that women with late marriages had higher marital adjustment, whereas, women with early marriages showed higher psychological distress. Regression analysis indicated low marital adjustment and interpersonal deference communication style as significant predictors of psychological distress in married women. The findings of this study may help service providers to recognize the impact of early and late marriage on women’s psychological health.