Marital Adjustment Among Working and Non-Working Women: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

This qualitative study to explore the marital adjustment among working and non-working women in Pakistan. Using purposive sampling strategy, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six married women, including four working women and two non-working women living in nuclear and joint family system. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method, fourteen themes were derived as self-negation, work load, financial stability, challenges, intimacy of relationships, coping strategies, family strength, independence, dual responsibility, demand for perfection, sense of guilt, enhance strength, increasing exposure and sense of completion. The results revealed that working women experienced dual responsibility, financial stability, and a sense of independence, which positively impacted their marital adjustment. However, they also reported feeling overwhelmed, guilty, and distant from their spouses. Non-working women reported feelings of financial dependence, lack of recognition, and limited social freedom. The study highlights the importance of considering the impact of occupational status on marital adjustment and the need for support systems for women in both nuclear and extended family settings. The study can also contribute in social psychology as it challenges the stereotypical thinking of working women not being able to justify their familial roles.