Domestic violence, coercive natal family pressure, marital dissatisfaction, and psychological distress among Pakistani women: a mediated model

This study examined the mediating role of coercive natal family pressure (CNFP) in the relationship between domestic violence (DV), marital dissatisfaction (MD), and psychological distress (PD) among married women in Pakistan. It was grounded in family systems theory, patriarchal theory, and learned helplessness theory. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected from 919 married women in District Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. Structural equation modeling indicated that DV was associated with higher MD and increased PD. DV was also closely linked with CNFP, reflecting the role of extended kinship systems in shaping responses to marital abuse. CNFP was further associated with both MD and PD. Mediation analysis showed that CNFP partially explained the relationship between DV and both outcomes, indicating that a substantial portion of women's distress and dissatisfaction is shaped through family-driven expectations that encourage endurance of abuse. The study concludes that DV operates within interconnected marital and familial systems, where CNFP intensifies women's suffering. Interventions should therefore extend beyond the marital dyad and address family-level norms that reinforce endurance of violence and limit women's coping options.