THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF JOINT FAMILY DYNAMICS IN MARITAL WELL-BEING: EVIDENCE FROM SARGODHA DIVISION

Abstract

Marriage is the complex adaptive system shaped by individual, relational, and familial factors, and environmental influences, which in turn affect the long-term stability and well-being of the marriage. This study aimed to explore the determinants of married couples' lives by taking into account the mutual dependence between spouses' experiences & health outcomes. A cross-sectional research design with a quantitative approach was used, in which data were collected from 120 married couples (240 individuals) in the Sargodha Division. The results showed that joint family structure had a positive impact (β = 0.500, p < 0.001), indicating that family support, family communication, trust, mutual goals were important variables in promoting marital satisfaction and stability. The individual factors (β = 0.158, p = 0.001) and social support networks (β = 0.153, p = 0.013) were identified significant factors that improve marital well-being. A direct effect was found amid religious factors and married couples' lives; however, it was not statistically significant (β = 0.094, p = 0.095). The results shed light on mutual effects that emotional and psychological health have on one another within the marital relationship, links between social and economic determinants and marital outcomes.