DefinePK

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between emotional maturity and social adjustment among married and unmarried women in Pakistan. A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 150 women (75 married and 75 unmarried), aged range between 25–35, selected through convenient sampling from Gujrat, Pakistan. Emotional maturity and social adjustment were measured using standardized tools. Results exposed a strong positive correlation between emotional maturity and social adjustment r = .930. Regression analysis confirmed the emotional maturity as a strong significant predictor of social adjustment by explaining 86.6% of the variance R² = .86, β = .93. Married women demonstrated significantly higher emotional maturity M = 80.97, SD = 2.99 as compared to unmarried women M = 48.76, SD = 5.13 and lower social adjustment scores both with very large effect sizes where Cohen’s d = 7.67 and 5.20, respectively from data. Cultural expectations around marriage in Pakistan highlighting the family roles, emotional regulation and societal conformity that may account for these differences. The findings also exposed that the influence of marital status on women’s emotional and social development stressing the great need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions that support emotional growth and social integration.