Causes and consequences of divorce: A case study of Southern Punjab, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68065/joccd.05.01.164Keywords:
Divorce, Southern Punjab, Social Factors, Psychological Factors, Sexual Incompatibility, Family Interference, Emotional Neglect, Mental Health, Marital DissatisfactionAbstract
Pakistan has been experiencing a growing problem of divorce, especially in the most culturally conservative area of Southern Punjab, where marriage is seen as a matter of lifetime commitment and sanctity. The current research was intended to investigate the reasons and impacts of divorce in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Qualitative research design was utilized, and 25 divorced women of Southern Punjab were used as the data collection sample using purposive sampling. The sample of respondents was picked at Multan High Court, where in-depth interviews were conducted to explore their lived experiences of marital dissolution. The data obtained were examined through thematic analysis, and the key themes that were revealed were social, psychological, and sexual factors of divorce. It was found that socio-psychological, economic factors and marital dissatisfaction were the main reasons of the breakdown of marriage. Divorce was also identified to have dire and multidimensional effects, especially among women, such as psychological distress, social stigma, economic insecurity, and child-rearing complications. Nevertheless, among the challenges, some respondents cited such positive effects as self-awareness, independence, and legal rights awareness after divorce. The research paper concludes that divorce among women in the Southern Punjab is a complicated issue that is caused by social, psychological, and sexual factors. It is suggested that having marital counseling, mental health, and sexual education within the cultural context, and women's empowerment programs to decrease the divorce rate and the negative social effects of divorce.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Uzair Ashraf, Fahad Ismaeel, Abdul Sufwan Sattar, Zahid Zulfiqar (Author)
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