Sexual lives and coping experiences of married women in post-earthquake container settlements in Türkiye: a...

This study explored the sexual lives and coping experiences of women living in container settlements after the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye. Drawing on Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Stress and Coping Model, a qualitative phenomenological approach was used to capture women's lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 13 women residing in container housing units. The findings show that the recovery period following the earthquakes was marked by profound disruptions to sexual health and relationships. Women described reduced sexual desire, domestic violence, fear of divorce, and difficulties navigating their partners' shifting sexual demands. Lack of privacy in container living was reported as a major barrier to maintaining a fulfilling sexual life. Many participants experienced a sense of partner pressure and relational tension within this setting. Women's coping strategies largely relied on emotion-focused methods, including avoidance, suppression, and resignation, alongside strategies that did not directly address their sources of stress. These insights point to the urgent need for psychosocial and reproductive health interventions in post-disaster temporary settlements, where attention to privacy, safety, and women's empowerment is central to supporting recovery and well-being.