ISSN: 2225-8329
Open access
This study explores young Malaysian commuter couples' unique challenges, focusing on those married for less than five years. Commuter marriages, characterized by physical separation due to professional or personal commitments, present significant emotional, financial, and logistical challenges that differ from traditional cohabitating marriages. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, six participants engaged in commuter marriages were interviewed to understand their experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms. The findings reveal that physical separation impacts the couples’ emotional well-being, leading to feelings of loneliness, guilt, and dissatisfaction. Participants reported difficulties in fulfilling traditional marital roles, particularly during emotionally or physically challenging moments, such as illness or stress. Additionally, the study highlights the financial burden of maintaining dual residences and frequent travel, which strained the couples' resources and limited their ability to achieve long-term goals. Communication challenges, including inconsistent routines and the lack of physical intimacy, further compounded the emotional strain. Despite these obstacles, the study illustrates the resilience and adaptability of commuter couples. Participants employed various coping strategies to sustain their relationships, including leveraging digital communication tools and practicing financial prudence. However, they also acknowledged the limitations of such measures in replicating the emotional and physical closeness integral to marital satisfaction. This study contributes to understanding commuter marriages in a rapidly evolving societal context, offering insights for practitioners, policymakers, and employers to support these couples better. Future research should investigate the long-term impact of commuter marriages on relationship dynamics and the well-being of both partners.
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