Paving the Way for A Normal Life: A Qualitative Study of Coping Strategies Among Iranian Divorced Women

ABSTRACT

Regarding the devastating aftermath of divorce among Iranian divorced women, which is mainly affected by sociocultural factors, this qualitative study was conducted to explore their applied strategies in reorganizing their lives. Data collection started through deep unstructured interviews followed by semistructured interviews with 18 divorced women who were chosen by purposive sampling from mental health clinics, social work centers, or available cases. Gathered data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method. Two main themes—behaviors of self-preservation and abstinence and struggling for balance—emerged. Subcategories were concealing the divorce, feminine self-restriction, avoidance behaviors, replacement of losses, seeking support, role development, handling the tensions, and defending oneself against the divorce failure. This study provides comprehensive knowledge of how Iranian divorced women reregulate their lives and also highlights their unique and culture-based coping strategies. Therefore, it provides specialists with a context-specific foundation for mental health care and enables them to intervene more effectively.

KEYWORDS :

• coping strategies
• divorce
• life reregulation
• qualitative research
• women

Acknowledgments

We sincerely express our gratitude to the participants helping us to conduct this study. The study was part of a master’s thesis prepared at Tarbiat Modares University.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Tarbiat Modares University.