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Always single and single again women: a qualitative study
1Department of Educational Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1446, USA.
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Single women aged 30-65 experience ambivalence about their status, recognizing both benefits and drawbacks. Many feel grief despite contentment, highlighting complex emotional landscapes for single women.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Understanding the diverse experiences of single women is crucial in contemporary society.
- Distinguishing between lifelong singlehood and post-marital singlehood offers nuanced insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the perceptions and experiences of being single among heterosexual women aged 30-65.
- To explore how family therapy can support the individual and relational development of single women.
Main Methods:
- A phenomenological, multiple-case study design was employed.
- Data collection involved nine focus group interviews and semistructured mailed questionnaires.
- Constant comparative analysis was used for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- The primary finding is that single women exhibit unresolved or unrecognized ambivalences regarding their single status.
- Women acknowledge both advantages and disadvantages of being single.
- Ambivalence exists regarding the reasons for their singlehood, alongside feelings of loss and grief despite contentment.
Conclusions:
- Single women's experiences are complex, marked by conflicting emotions about their status.
- Family therapists can play a role in addressing these ambivalences and supporting single women's well-being.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the multifaceted lives of single women.