THE SOUND OF SILENCE: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF STONEWALLING DYNAMICS IN MARRIED COUPLES

Abstract

Marital communication plays a central role in shaping relationship quality and emotional well-being. Stonewalling is characterized by emotional withdrawal and silence during or after conflict, and represents a complex interpersonal dynamic that extends beyond observable disengagement. The present qualitative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences and sociocultural meanings of stonewalling within the Pakistani marital context. A purposive sampling strategy was employed to recruit married individuals aged 25–45 years from Punjab, Pakistan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain in-depth insights into participants’ experiences. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed seven interrelated themes, including behavioral withdrawal during conflict, emotional withdrawal and detachment, Silence as a coping strategy, Prolonged and persistent stonewalling, post-conflict withdrawal and isolation, and sociocultural and familial influences. Stonewalling emerged not only as a conflict response but also as a self-protective coping strategy shaped by emotional regulation needs and social expectations. Persistent withdrawal contributed to relational strain, unresolved conflicts, and gradual emotional disconnection between spouses. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive marital counseling interventions and communication-focused psychoeducation programs to address maladaptive withdrawal patterns. Future research should adopt longitudinal and dyadic approaches to understand better the reciprocal dynamics of stonewalling within marital relationships.