Perceived Stress and Psychological Wellbeing Among Married and Unmarried Pakistani Women

Abstract

There is limited literature on perceived stress and psychological well-being among married and unmarried Pakistani women. The objective of this study is to highlight a growing cultural issue in Pakistan by investigating perceived stress and psychological well-being using a cross sectional correlational design and purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of 250 Pakistani women (married=113, unmarried=137), with inclusion criteria requiring participants to be between 25 and 40 years of age and to have at least an Intermediate level of education. The study utilized the Perceived Stress Scale and the Psychological Wellbeing Scale to assess the relevant variables. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in perceived stress and psychological well-being between married and unmarried Pakistani women. An independent samples t-test revealed that unmarried Pakistani women scored significantly higher on perceived stress, while married Pakistani women scored higher on psychological well-being. However, the difference in psychological well-being was not statistically significant. This study provides implications for addressing the challenges faced by women. It emphasizes the importance of raising awareness, encouraging effective government interventions, and recognizing the crucial role of mental health professionals.