Emotional Divorce between Legitimacy and Real-Life Pressure

This study investigates emotional divorce in Jordanian society, in particular, in Amman, where families endure pressure from economic hardship, unemployment and social instability. Emotional divorce, marked by a lack of intimacy while maintaining legal marital status undermines marriage’s emotional and psychological purpose as defined by Islamic jurisprudence. Using a descriptive, inductive and analytical methodology, data were collected from 261 married individuals in Amman, Jordan, and analyzed using the Emotional Divorce Scale developed by al-Shawashreh and Abdulrahman (2018). Findings show that emotional divorce is driven by marital infidelity, economic and educational disparities as well as social pressure with a higher prevalence among males and long-term marriages. The educational level does not significantly affect its occurrence, indicating its pervasiveness across different backgrounds. This study underscores the need for therapeutic and preventive strategies, focusing on partner compatibility and the management of material pressure. It is hoped that these insights will assist policymakers and social workers in promoting family stability and well-being amidst societal challenges.