Natasha Kanwal2026-01-212026-01-212025-08-18https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/18385This study aimed to develop and validate the Comprehensive Spousal Support Scale (CSSS) for Pakistani Married Partners. Using a mixed-method design, the qualitative study designed to explore spousal support among married men and women. With a phenomenological research design, purposive and snowball sampling technique was used to recruit the participants, 12 participants (6 males, 6 females) married for more than 1.5 years in marital life were selected with age range of 25 to 35 years. A semi-structured interview guide was prepared, to explore lived experiences of married people regarding spousal support. The interviews were taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically via thematic analysis. After analysis, 12 themes emergent themes with their respective subordinate themes. In the quantitative phase content validity by 10 experts refined 49 items to 45.. The sample comprised of 240 participants, of which 120 (50%) were women and 120 (50%) were men, exploratory factor analysis confirmed a clear three- factor structure for the CSSS; family-oriented domestic and interpersonal support (FODIS), emotional expression and marital intimacy (EEMI) and empathetic guidance and shared decision making (EGSDM). Reliability testing demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = .97). Discriminant validity was supported by significant negative correlations with DASS-21 scores (p<.05) and t-tests indicated gender difference on the Emotional Expression & Marital Intimacy (EEMI) subscale, with men scoring significantly higher than women. Overall, the findings revealed that CSSS is a reliable, culturally grounded instrument with strong potential for marital counseling therapy and the future.enThesis