THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE IN ABBOTTABAD: CAUSES, SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES, AND RELIGIOUS MEDIATION

Abstract

This paper discusses the effect of divorce in Abbottabad by explaining its reported causes, Socio-Psychological consequences, implications for children and role of religion in it. It takes the findings from a mixed-method thesis collection of data and replicates the same data with a descriptive survey of 150 respondents to produce the findings as a journal-ready research article that can be submitted to a social sciences journal. The findings reveal that there are multiple factors which influence divorce in Abbottabad: early marriage, domestic discord, psychological incompatibility, infertility and interference of in-laws, and financial pressure are all playing significant roles. The most common main reasons for early marriage were early marriage, close to early marriage, and a psychological incompatibility between the couple. Post divorce costs were also significant with 50.7% of respondents reporting mental health problems, 71.3% reporting moderate or high levels of social stigma and 46% reporting impact on children. 49.3 percent of the respondents sought religious guidance, indicating that religion is an important, but not universal, source of mediation, moral interpretation and post-divorce support. The paper suggests that increasing divorce rate in Abbottabad is a sign of shifting expectations, roles and conflict solving practices of marriage in a conservative setting. It endorses the need for a pre-marital counseling, availability of mental health services, awakening of children, legal awareness of a justice, compassion, and reconciliation approach in religious counseling.