DefinePK

Research Objective

To investigate the impact of dowry demands, dowry at marriage, occupational status, family system, marriage type, age at marriage, educational attainment, duration of marriage, and number of children on marital satisfaction among Pakistani women.

Methodology

Quantitative study using the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMS). A sample of 486 married women from Pakistan's Punjab area was selected through purposive sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS-23, employing one-way ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Recruit 486 married women from Punjab, Pakistan"] --> B["Administer Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale - EMS"];
    B --> C["Collect Demographic Data"];
    C --> D["Analyze data using SPSS-23"];
    D --> E["Perform t-tests for group comparisons"];
    D --> F["Perform ANOVA for demographic factors"];
    D --> G["Perform Pearson's Correlation"];
    E --> H["Identify significant differences/correlations"];
    F --> H;
    G --> H;
    H --> I["Draw Conclusions and Implications"];                    

Discussion

The study highlights that dowry demands negatively impact marital satisfaction, contradicting the societal view that dowry is key to marital pleasure. The findings suggest that dowry is an immoral practice contributing to marital disputes. While occupational status and family system influence satisfaction, marriage type, age at marriage, education, and marriage duration did not show significant effects. The negative correlation between age difference from spouse and marital satisfaction is noted.

Key Findings

Women who were not demanded dowry by their in-laws reported significantly higher marital satisfaction compared to those who were demanded dowry. Dowry given at marriage or not given at marriage did not show a statistically significant difference in marital satisfaction. Occupational status and family system had a statistically significant impact on marital satisfaction, with non-working women and women in joint family systems reporting higher satisfaction. Age at marriage, educational attainment, marriage duration, and number of children had a non-significant impact on marital satisfaction. Age difference from spouse showed a significant negative correlation with marital satisfaction.

Conclusion

Women not subjected to dowry demands experience higher marital satisfaction. The dowry system is an immoral practice that should be outlawed in Pakistan due to its contribution to marital conflicts. Factors like background, compatibility, past experiences, and beliefs may also influence marital satisfaction and warrant further study.

Fact Check

1. Sample Size: The study involved 486 married women from Pakistan's Punjab area.
2. Key Instrument: The Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMS) was used to measure marital satisfaction.
3. Significant Correlation: Age difference from spouse had a significant negative correlation with marital satisfaction (r = -.11, p < .05).

Mind Map