Spousal Communication as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Intergenerational Family Pressure and Marital Outcomes Among Rural Pakistani Women

This study examines the associations between intergenerational family pressure, marital dissatisfaction, marital conflict, and spousal communication constraints among married women living in joint family systems in Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 841 participants. Structural equation modeling indicated that intergenerational family pressure was positively associated with marital dissatisfaction and marital conflict. In addition, spousal communication constraints were significantly associated with intergenerational family pressure and statistically mediated its associations with both marital conflict and marital dissatisfaction. Grounded in Family Systems Theory and Communication Privacy Management Theory, the findings illustrate how intergenerational dynamics and boundary regulation processes are linked to marital relationships within collectivist family structures. Overall, the study enhances understanding of how cultural and familial expectations relate to communication patterns, intimacy, and marital well-being, underscoring the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to marital counseling and relationship research.