Socio-cultural and psychological factors associated with marital separation among Muslim couples

This study focuses on the investigation of socio-cultural and selected psychological factors hypothesized by the researcher to be influencing married Muslim couples. Fifty separated and not separated couples were the subjects of the study for the first part and three case studies for the second part. The couples were selected according to the criteria set by the researcher. The comparative-descriptive research design was used and projective such as the Sack\u27s Sentence Completion Test (SSCT), the Life Style Interview Guide (LSIG), and the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA) were utilized. A personal data checklist and interview were employed for the 3 case studies. The statistical treatments used were the Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and F-test. The results of the study showed the following: 1) Separated husbands were emotionally immature while not separated husbands displayed some tendencies of immaturity. Separated wives indicated deeper emotional problems of instability and not separated wives also indicated tendencies of immaturity. 2) For sense of responsibility, separated and not separated husbands indicated lack of sense of responsibility, while separated and not separated wives have sense of responsibility. 3) In interpersonal relationship, separated husbands were found to be good in this factor, except the factor on relations with women and guilt feelings, where majority of the respondents fell under the severely disturbed, while not separated husbands have satisfactory relationship. Unlike the separated husbands, separated wives indicated poor interpersonal relationships whereas not separated wives indicated satisfactory relationships in the SSCT but poor in this factor in the T-JTA. 4) Separated husbands indicated lack of self-confidence in the T-JTA. For the separated and not separated wives, both groups were found to have self-confidence. 5) For sexual conflict, separated husbands were experiencing this problem while the not separated showed no conflict in this area. While separated wives were experiencing sexual conflict, self-control enabled them to experience lesser problems in this area. Not separated wives posed no difficulty in sexual impulses as indicated in T-JTA and SSCT results. 6) Two dominant life style themes: baby and avoids feelings were manifested by separated husbands while not separated have theme of Avoids Feelings. Two life style themes emerged for the separated wives: Victim and Opposed to Everything. Not separated wives have themes of Driver and Avoids Feelings. 7) Socio-cultural factors as polygamy, social standing and maratabat (pride) were the usual causes of marital separation. Conclusions drawn from the results were: 1) Much similarities of both separated and not separated couples in psychological factors is shown in the study. Dissimilarities of separated husbands and wives and not separated husbands and wives account of the non-separation. 2) Life style themes of couples justified outcome of their relationships. 3) Psychological as well as socio-cultural factors could affect marital relations. 4) Certain Muslim practices seemed to be factors that impede growth of marital relationship and development. 5) Results of the case studies seemingly justify the fact that socio-cultural practices were more associated with marital separation