Examining the Relationship between Gaslighting and Psychological Distress among Married People: Mediating Role of Marital Satisfaction

Abstract

Gaslighting is a type of psychological manipulation that intends to create doubt in the targeted individual in such a way that it causes him/her to doubt his/her own reality, perception and memory. Gaslighting is an understudied form of abuse within context of intimate relationship in Pakistan. The main objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between gaslighting and psychological distress among married people along with mediating role of marital satisfaction. Additionally, gender differences in gaslighting were also investigated. A sample of 300 married people from cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad (Pakistan) was selected by using convenience sampling technique. Three instruments translated into Urdu language were used to measure study variables which were; DASS-21, Victim Gaslighting Questionnaire and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale.  Results revealed that Gaslighting was positively related with psychological distress and negatively related with marital satisfaction among married people that supported the hypotheses of the study. Additionally, marital satisfaction was found to be negatively related with psychological distress. Mediation analysis indicated that marital satisfaction mediated the relationship between gaslighting and psychological distress; gaslighting decreased the marital satisfaction which in turn increased psychological distress. Moreover, results indicated that married women experienced more gaslighting as compared to married men. The findings of the study can be helpful in understanding and developing awareness regarding gaslighting and its impact on people’s psychological health and help mental health professional to develop therapeutic interventions to address psychological problems caused by gaslighting.