Marital factors affecting addiction among Iranian women: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Women’s addiction is a phenomenon with individual, social, economic and health impacts. Its underlying complications have been the downfall of many values and cultural and moral norms, and it threatens the health of individuals, families, and society. This research shows that certain marital factors can predispose women to addiction.

Methods: This qualitative study used thematic analysis to investigate a sample of 32 women addicted to narcotics who referred to the addiction treatment clinics in 2015–2016. In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants.

Results: Through data analysis, six main components were acquired from marital characteristics: bad marriage, addiction of spouse, spousal abuse, dysfunctional relationship, apathy and disgust toward one’s spouse, no support from spouse.

Conclusion: This research showed that particular paired factors may make women susceptible to addiction. A prevention or cure for addicted women based on marital factors needs to be considered. Group therapy can help prevent and treat addiction among women.

KEYWORDS:

• Addiction
• women
• group therapy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the residential recovery center principals and staff who cooperated with us in data collection and the women who took part in the study.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.