Emotional Orientation, Emotional Disconnectedness, and Marital Bonding: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study of Married Couples in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

Marriage remains a fundamental institution sustaining social stability, yet its success largely depends on the quality of emotional exchanges between spouses. This study examines the effects of emotional orientation and emotional disconnectedness on marital bonding within a South Asian context. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 700 married respondents in Muzaffarabad using structured Likert-scale questionnaires. The measures assessed emotional orientation, emotional disconnectedness, disagreement, emotional well-being, and marital bonding, each operationalized as the mean of multiple indicators. Data was analyzed using chi-square tests, Pearson’s correlations, and multiple regression in SPSS. Results revealed significant associations among the variables. Emotional orientation was positively correlated with marital bonding (r = .10, p < .01), whereas emotional disconnectedness and disagreement were negatively correlated (r = –.20, p < .01; r = –.88, p < .01). Regression analysis indicated that emotional disconnectedness was the strongest negative predictor of marital bonding (β = –.44, p < .001), while emotional orientation emerged as a positive predictor (β = .28, p < .001). The overall model explained 6% of the variance in marital bonding, F(2, 697) = 21.47, p < .001. These findings underscore the critical role of emotional processes in sustaining marital ties, with emotional withdrawal exerting a stronger negative effect than the positive influence of emotional orientation. The study contributes to existing literature by offering empirical evidence from Pakistan, where marital expectations are shaped by collectivist norms and socio-cultural obligations. Practical implications highlight the need for marital counseling interventions that reduce emotional withdrawal while promoting positive emotional orientation to strengthen spousal bonds.