Volume 32, Issue 1 (3-2025)
RJMS 2025, 32(1): 1-19 |
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Research code: IR.IAU.YAZD.REC.1401.024
Ethics code: IR.IAU.YAZD.REC.1401.024
Clinical trials code: IR.IAU.YAZD.REC.1401.024
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Dehghani S, Dehghan Manshadi M, Sedrpoushan N, Nazari A. Investigating the Lived Experience of Women with A History of Remarriage and Identifying the Challenges and Obstacles to Remarriage. RJMS 2025; 32 (1) :1-19
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-9071-en.html
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-9071-en.html
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran , marieh.dehghan@gmail.com
Abstract: (105 Views)
Background & Aims: The institution of family and marriage has experienced significant changes in the past few decades. Given the rapidity of social changes in recent years, it is expected that these changes have affected intergenerational values and attitudes, and therefore, the attitudes of the new and old generations towards marriage have become distinct from each other (1). Divorce in Iran has been on the rise over the past decades (2). Remarriage is one of the ways that can reduce the dimensions of social and psychological harm caused by divorce and be effective in improving the quality of life of women (5). Remarriage is a second chance that couples who have lost their spouses for various reasons provide for themselves to experience life together (6). The results of a domestic study showed that the more social acceptance of remarriage in interactions between individuals becomes widespread, the more female heads of households have social ties with those around them, experience economic pressure, and have fewer children, and are more likely to remarry (7).
Remarriage is a second chance to experience a life together. However, this type of marriage is associated with many problems, and the inability to manage them can lead to another failed experience. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to identify challenges and obstacles in remarriage based on the lived experience of divorced women in Yazd.
Methods: The model development stage is the qualitative part of the research and is of the type of "experience of experts", "thematic analysis", and "contextual". The statistical population of the qualitative part includes all divorced women from Yazd or living in Yazd who have a remarriage history of at least 6 months. Among these, several community members who had rich information about the phenomenon under study were selected through purposive sampling from the Life Counseling Centers of Fayyaz Bakhsh, Bolourian, and Rasta, and answered the researcher's questions through a semi-structured interview method. After interviewing 15 people, we reached saturation.
Results: The interview texts were analyzed using coding method. Ultimately, 232 concepts, 30 primary codes, 15 main themes (themes), and 48 subthemes (categories) were extracted from the lived experiences of divorced women with a history of remarriage. The main findings and categories included: issues related to children, ex-spouse, the circumstances of the suitors, fear of failure again, parenthood again, cultural issues, stereotypical views of divorced women, marital history, premarital acquaintance, similarities, skills and defining relationship boundaries, freedom from social pressures, meeting needs, and mental health. Also, psychological theories, theories related to marriage and divorce, counseling methods used by domestic and foreign counselors and experts, and religious teachings related to marriage were examined, and a pre-remarriage counseling model was developed in 11 sessions (45 to 60 minutes).
Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that the existence of gender stereotypes about women's marriage or celibacy in society has led to the formation of musts and obstacles on the path of remarriage, especially for women. Another major category of challenges in remarriage was women's fear and anxiety about experiencing another failure. According to the participants in the present study, they also had doubts when faced with remarriage and felt fear of another failure and anxiety about marriage. Due to the bitter experience they had in their past lives, the participants distrusted men and generalized this issue to all men. Some divorced women have not yet recovered from their past lives and are not optimistic about living together due to the problems and tensions of their past lives and live in fear of their past lives. On the other hand, it is important to note that in the culture and customs of our country, and especially in the city of Yazd, due to the specific cultural conditions, remarriage is not a desirable thing for women. Fear that the remarriage will also fail was another challenge for women in remarriage. Considering the themes and categories obtained in the present study, it is suggested that specialists in the field of marriage and family should have a multidimensional approach to remarriage instead of a unidimensional perspective, and considering the multidimensional structure of these marriages, consider it in the context of the intersystem (factors related to the interpersonal relationships of the couple) and the extra system (environmental and cultural factors). The use of the results of the present study by relevant authorities and institutions, including environments with traditional cultural contexts, can be a solution and facilitate remarriage. And given the stresses and challenges that come with remarriage, it is essential to educate individuals and equip them with the facilitating strategies mentioned in this research and communication and marital skills.
Remarriage is a second chance to experience a life together. However, this type of marriage is associated with many problems, and the inability to manage them can lead to another failed experience. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to identify challenges and obstacles in remarriage based on the lived experience of divorced women in Yazd.
Methods: The model development stage is the qualitative part of the research and is of the type of "experience of experts", "thematic analysis", and "contextual". The statistical population of the qualitative part includes all divorced women from Yazd or living in Yazd who have a remarriage history of at least 6 months. Among these, several community members who had rich information about the phenomenon under study were selected through purposive sampling from the Life Counseling Centers of Fayyaz Bakhsh, Bolourian, and Rasta, and answered the researcher's questions through a semi-structured interview method. After interviewing 15 people, we reached saturation.
Results: The interview texts were analyzed using coding method. Ultimately, 232 concepts, 30 primary codes, 15 main themes (themes), and 48 subthemes (categories) were extracted from the lived experiences of divorced women with a history of remarriage. The main findings and categories included: issues related to children, ex-spouse, the circumstances of the suitors, fear of failure again, parenthood again, cultural issues, stereotypical views of divorced women, marital history, premarital acquaintance, similarities, skills and defining relationship boundaries, freedom from social pressures, meeting needs, and mental health. Also, psychological theories, theories related to marriage and divorce, counseling methods used by domestic and foreign counselors and experts, and religious teachings related to marriage were examined, and a pre-remarriage counseling model was developed in 11 sessions (45 to 60 minutes).
Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that the existence of gender stereotypes about women's marriage or celibacy in society has led to the formation of musts and obstacles on the path of remarriage, especially for women. Another major category of challenges in remarriage was women's fear and anxiety about experiencing another failure. According to the participants in the present study, they also had doubts when faced with remarriage and felt fear of another failure and anxiety about marriage. Due to the bitter experience they had in their past lives, the participants distrusted men and generalized this issue to all men. Some divorced women have not yet recovered from their past lives and are not optimistic about living together due to the problems and tensions of their past lives and live in fear of their past lives. On the other hand, it is important to note that in the culture and customs of our country, and especially in the city of Yazd, due to the specific cultural conditions, remarriage is not a desirable thing for women. Fear that the remarriage will also fail was another challenge for women in remarriage. Considering the themes and categories obtained in the present study, it is suggested that specialists in the field of marriage and family should have a multidimensional approach to remarriage instead of a unidimensional perspective, and considering the multidimensional structure of these marriages, consider it in the context of the intersystem (factors related to the interpersonal relationships of the couple) and the extra system (environmental and cultural factors). The use of the results of the present study by relevant authorities and institutions, including environments with traditional cultural contexts, can be a solution and facilitate remarriage. And given the stresses and challenges that come with remarriage, it is essential to educate individuals and equip them with the facilitating strategies mentioned in this research and communication and marital skills.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Clinical Psychiatry
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