Social support: the most important need of young Iranian single-parent widows on their path to widowhood

Few researchers specifically focus on the sociocultural problems facing single-parent widows in the process of becoming widow after spousal death. Scant research has also been done on the effects that these problems have on their well-being. This study aims to investigate the sociocultural problems, responses and consequences experienced by Iranian widow/single-mothers. A qualitative exploratory study with a non-structured interview was used to collect the data from participants who consisted of 24 young Iranian single-parent widows. Using the constant comparative analysis method, the achieved results were summarized in three main categories: the facing of social problems, self-restriction and the consequences of social wearing, with some subcategories for the first and third categories. The findings could assist nurses in becoming aware of the sociocultural problems and their unhealthy psychosocial consequences so as to help them to better focus on them in their assessments and treatment, which in turn would empower the widows to adapt positively to widowhood and live hopefully.