Academic Strengths of Female Students after Their Father’s Death: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The death of a parent is a traumatic experience, and for many female students, it can be especially challenging when the father is no longer around. although most studies focus on the emotional impact of such an event, few have examined how it affects academic performance. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the lived experience of female students’ academic strengths after the death of their father. For this study, 13 female students in their mid-teens who had experienced the death of their fathers were recruited by convenience sampling. Each participant was interviewed using a semi-structured interview, and content analysis was conducted using Colizzi’s steps to derive themes and categories. The study revealed 4 themes, including (1) school-related support, (2) personal strengths, (3) specialist support, and (4) interpersonal and social strengths. The death of the father can have a significant impact on the academic performance of female students. Despite these challenges, this study indicated that female students may show resilience and educational strengths after the death of their father. Moreover, this study indicated the need for more support from society as well as schools for female students who have experienced the death of their father.

Keywords:

• Father’s death
• female students
• academic strengths
• qualitative study
• educational difficulties

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maryam Kazemi

Maryam Kazemi hold an M.A. of counseling, at the university of Isfahan, Iran.

Faramarz Asanjarani

Faramarz Asanjarani is an assistant professor at the University of Isfahan, Iran. His research interests include school psychology, school belonging, and mathematics anxiety.

Azam Naghavi

Azam Naghavi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan. She has finished her PhD in Psychology at Monash University, Australia, and in 2014 moved back to Iran and started her work at the University of Isfahan.