Emotional Competence and Marital Adjustment among Childless Women

Abstract Introduction: Childlessness is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse. It is linked not only with psychological problems like low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety but also affects a couple's marital adjustment.  The aim of this study was to compare emotional competence and marital adjustment among childless women and women with children and to find out the correlation between emotional competence and marital adjustment of childless women and women with children. Method: This was a descriptive and correlational study. Its sample consisted of two groups including childless women (n = 100) and women with children (n = 100) selected through purposive sampling technique from three districts (Ganderbal, Srinagar and Baramulla) of Kashmir Valley. Standardized tools were used for data collection. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS software. Results: Findings revealed that women with children were higher on emotional competence than childless women. Similarly, women with children were much better in marital adjustment as compared to childless women. Results also indicated a positive correlation between emotional competence and marital adjustment. Conclusion: Accordingly it can be stated that emotional competence can be considered effective in the better adjustment of women.