Social Isolation and Spousal Violence during COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderating Effects of Social Support

Abstract

The incidence of spousal violence exhibited a global rise within the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in numbers can be ascribed to a variety of factors, including the implementation of lockdown measures and restrictions on social mobility, the heightened stress and dissatisfaction resulting from unfavorable socio-economic conditions, high rates of unemployment, and the mandatory closure of firms. Furthermore, it is worth noting that social isolation had a notable surge within the pandemic, while the implementation of preventive measures concurrently resulted in a decline in social support. Therefore, the current study postulated that there exists a positive correlation between social isolation and spousal violence, and that this association is moderated by social support. To examine these hypotheses, the study employed quantitative research methodologies and gathered data from a sample of 384 women. The participants were selected based on specific inclusion criteria using a purposive sampling strategy. The data was gathered utilizing conventional instruments for measuring social isolation, spousal violence, and perceived social support. Subsequently, the acquired data was subjected to analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed a significant prevalence of domestic violence and increased social isolation among married individuals in Pakistan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation seen between social isolation and spousal violence, indicating that higher levels of social isolation were associated with increased likelihood of experiencing violence within a marital relationship.