Marital adjustment, psychological distress, and Internet addiction among married couples in an urban community: A cross-sectional study

Background: Urbanization and modernization have led to increasing marital disputes, a major cause of stress affecting the mental health and quality of life among couples. Poor marital adjustment is commonly associated with psychological complaints. Internet addiction may function both as a maladaptive coping mechanism and as a factor contributing to marital discord. These difficulties not only affect the couple but can also have lasting implications for family dynamics and child functioning. These factors must be considered when designing effective interventions targeting intergenerational associations and improving psychosocial outcomes in an urban environment. Aim: To determine the marital adjustment, psychological distress, and Internet addiction among married couples in an urban community through cross-sectional design. Materials and Methods: 106 married couples were studied for marital discord. A simple random sampling approach was employed for recruitment. Standardized questionnaires measuring marital adjustment, psychological wellbeing, and Internet addiction were used to collect self-reported data. Statistical analysis was undertaken to evaluate how psychosocial variables relate to the extent of marital discord. Results: 22.6% females and 20.7% males experienced poor marital adjustment. Education and occupation were significantly associated with marital discord, particularly among men. Marital adjustment showed a significant inverse correlation with psychological distress, whereas no such association was found with Internet addiction. Conclusion: Marital discord was significantly associated with psychological distress, with women experiencing higher distress levels. Internet addiction showed no direct link with discord but correlated with psychological distress. These findings highlight the need for integrated interventions addressing marital, mental health and digital wellbeing among urban couples.