Marital disputes within one year of marriage increasing: Study

By Ajay Mardikar :

It is shocking to note that majority of cases for separation of married partners come in the age group of 18 to 30, that too a vast majority within six months of marriage. This important research carried out by Dr Sangita Sathawane-Pande, senior Counselor with Family Court has thrown light on the important issue. It is an issue of great concern for the entire society as the marital conflict in 68.4% couples started within one years and 54.3% preferred separation. Dr Pande has stated in her research that 75.7% of the respondents faced marital conflict before attaining the age of 30 years.

Dr Sangita Pande

And a vast majority has blamed social media and modern life style for the dispute. While blaming the social media, WhatsApp messages, telephonic conversation with others as reasons for conflict, it has led to mental harassment of the spouse.

Of the respondents 165 males and equal number of females, 70.9% have stated that they preferred separation because of mental harassment. Should it be called lack of understanding between the partners or assertion of independent thinking against agreement of the spouse or behaviour beyond accepted social norms. This remains a major question, which even after the research remains unanswered. The research, however, helps in further thinking on this important issues, by social scientists and common people together. The general assumption that requirement of jobs or professions lead to such conflicts. However, majority of the respondents have rejected this as a major cause of conflict. There could be another issue, which is in picture with the modern life style, is of having children.

There is a difference of opinion among couples for having children first and then making career or vice-versa. In resolving the dispute, majority agreed that intervention of family members or relatives or trained mediators helped. The researcher recorded another important issue which needs attention is that the social norms are crumbling.

With some of these issues, it becomes important to analyse the changing form of society, its norms, shedding old beliefs, gender bias so far as own behaviour and expectations from others is concerned; uncontrolled use of social media, misunderstandings due to it and its impact on social life. The tendency of opting for separation also needs to be addressed. Grooming of children right from the childhood will have to be given due importance to prevent increase in number of marital disputes. Dr Pande, who has worked in Nagpur Family Court for several years, has now been posted at Pune. The research for doctoral degree titled ‘Tendency of separation among newly married couples due to modern life style and its impact on social life’, was carried out under the supervision of Dr Vijay Shingnapure. To be continued)

Marital conflicts

Marital conflict in 68.4% respondents began within a year of marriage.

54.3% separated within a year.

Majority - 41.8% were in the age group of 25 to 30 years at the time of conflict; 33.9% in 18-25 years of age group.

Majority 70.9% opted for separation due to mental harassment.

55.8% stated that social media is responsible for the conflict. 81.2% stated that telephonic conversation with others and WhatsApp messages caused conflict.

43.3% blamed modern lifestyle and thinking of spouse as reason for conflict. This include independent thinking; modern dressing style.

59.1% stated that jobs and professions were not the factor responsible for the conflict.

65.75% couples had difference regarding having child. 24.24% partners wanted children after settlement in career.

23.33% preferred children first and then concentration on career.

21.2% made attempt to reach compromise to avert separation. In 46.4% cases family members had a role in resolving conflict. In 23.6% cases relatives helped in resolving conflict. In 20.3% help of mediators was sought.

37% couples agreed that third party intervention helped in thinking positive in resolving conflict. 21.5% went on to live together.

Marital relations

Post-marriage majority 56.7% has living relations with spouse; 24.5% unsatisfactory relations. So far as emotional and physical relations 54.8% had good relations; 30% had unsatisfactory relations.

26.4% respondents recorded that moral parameters are crumbling.

18.2% stated that marriage is a social agreement.