Zorlu Yaşam Koşullarına Maruz Kalmış Kadınların Psikolojik Sağlamlık Öyküleri
Özet
The purpose of this study was to examine resilience stories of women lived under harsh
circumstances; the study explored these women’s experiences to delineate protective and
risk factors in their stories. This study intended to thoroughly examine stories of late adult
women with crucial risk factors and who have remarkably defeated these risk factors. A
convenient sample of 16 women aging ranging between 50-70 years heterogeneous
backgrounds and living in different regions of Turkey. Semi-Structured Interview Form
prepared by the researcher which was used for data collection through online interviews.
The form involves questions about the participants’ life stories, their childhood and past
lives, the difficulties they have experienced and their struggles, their support system and
the factors that might influence their developmental outcomes. Analysis which resulted in
five main themes. These themes were; (1) strength, (2) perceptions of current and past
life, (3) protective factors, and (4) risk factors. Each theme has sub-themes. The findings
were examined under these themes and sub-themes. The results showed that women
experience many problems in society and some individual, economic and family factors
contribute to their coping. One striking finding was the presence of strong personal
characteristics. The results of the study, its limitations, implications, and recommendations
for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers were discussed.
