THE CHALLENGES AND PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL- BEING OF UNMARRIED WOMEN IN GONDAR TOWN

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to explore the challenges and psychosocial wellbeing of unmarried women in their lived experiences. A qualitative research approach, particularly phenomenology research design was employed to address the issues under investigation and this research design was significant to examine unmarried women life situation in Gondar town. A total of 30 unmarried women were selected by using snowball sampling technique. The women were interviewed individually regarding psychosocial challenges and how to use different strategies in order increase their psychosocial wellbeing of unmarried women. To address the gap, this study aimed to: (1) To explore challenges that unmarried women have been experiencing; (2) To explore the strategies to increase their psychosocial well beings of unmarried women. The finding showed that the women have experienced different psychosocial challenges due to unmarried experiences. These were psychosocial challenges that affect women live styles such as frustrations, fear of childlessness, loneliness, sexual harassment, discrimination, stigmatization, disrespect and verbal abuse. The finding showed that the women used different strategies in order to increase their psychological and social wellbeing include social support, active lifestyle, resistance to external pressures and positive self-talk. Furthermore, use different coping strategies to increase their psychosocial well beings of unmarried women.