How Long-Distance Relationship Effects the Marital Satisfaction among Couples? Analyzing the Mediating Effect of Trust and Moderating Effect of Resilience

Long-distance relationships (LDRs) bring significant challenges to the marital satisfaction due to the pressures of distance, diminished emotional bonding, and limited communication avenues. The study aims at assessing the mediating role trust and moderating role of resilience in the effect of LDRs on marital satisfaction. A cross-sectional design was adopted, and 400 married women residing in Pakistan, whose husbands work abroad, were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Validated instruments used included the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-32) to measure marital satisfaction, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and a standardized trust scale. Findings revealed a significant negative relationship between LDRs and marital satisfaction (β = -0.355, p < 0.001). Trust emerged as a strong mediator (β = 0.424, p < 0.001), while resilience moderated the negative impact of LDRs on marital satisfaction (β = -0.226, p = 0.002). A significant positive correlation was found between trust and resilience (r = 0.638, p < 0.01), suggesting their combined role in enhancing emotional intimacy and coping with separation-related stress. The study highlights the critical roles of trust and resilience in sustaining marital stability in LDRs and provides a foundation for developing interventions aimed at strengthening these dimensions in long-distance marital contexts.