Exploring Perceived Interactional Harms Among Substance-Dependent Women in Isfahan
Subject Areas : Social issues and injuries related to women and the familysetareh mohammadi 1 , zahra yousefi 2 , leila hashemi 3 , zahra kiani 4
1 - M.A of Science in General Psychology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
3 - M.A of Science in Clinical Psychology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
4 - M.A of Science in Educational Management, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Keywords: Perceived Interactional Harms, Addiction, Social Deviance, Substance-Dependent Women, Thematic Analysis.,
Abstract :
Social exclusion and unhealthy social interactions have detrimental consequences for substance-dependent women, ranging from social withdrawal to suicide attempts, with adverse impacts on both family and society. Given the rising prevalence of addiction among women, a comprehensive investigation of this issue is essential. This study aims to explore the interactional harms experienced by substance-dependent women in Isfahan. The research was conducted using a qualitative thematic analysis approach. The study population comprised all substance-dependent women in Isfahan’s addiction treatment centers in 2024, from which eight participants were purposively selected using homogeneous sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, utilizing an interview guide with questions related to interactional harms. The data were analyzed following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-stage method. The findings revealed that interactional harms can be categorized into four themes: harms arising from familial issues, harms related to the parental subsystem, harms stemming from psychological problems, and harms associated with social interactions. The results suggest that substance-dependent women experience interactional harms that predispose them to addiction and increase the likelihood of sustained substance use.
Keywords: Perceived Interactional Harms, Addiction, Social Deviance, Substance-Dependent Women, Thematic Analysis.
Introduction
According to global statistics, addiction in women leads to more severe consequences than in men, with significantly greater physical, psychological, and social impacts (Majdi & Anvari, 2024). Social exclusion and unhealthy social interactions have harmful effects on substance-dependent women (Talebpour, 2023), encompassing a wide range of outcomes from social withdrawal to suicide attempts, with negative consequences for both family and society (Zolala et al., 2016). Various theories have addressed the causes and explanations of social interactions in addiction. Sociological theories generally examine social structures and behaviors, studying substance use within a social context (Majdi & Anvari, 2024). Additionally, the network analysis approach, initially developed in psychology and later extended to sociology and anthropology, focuses on group relationships and the structural characteristics of social formations, considering social relationships as the cornerstone of social structures (Babaeifard & Habibirad, 2018). Given the importance of interactional relationships in the development or recovery from addiction, research is needed to identify interactional harms—referring to the wounds and suffering individuals experience from or inflict on those around them—among substance-dependent women. With the increasing prevalence of addiction among women, a comprehensive examination of this issue is crucial. Therefore, this study aims to qualitatively explore the interactional harms experienced by substance-dependent women in Isfahan.
Methodology
This qualitative study employed thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) approach. The study population included all substance-dependent women in Isfahan’s addiction treatment centers in 2024, from which eight participants were purposively selected based on theoretical saturation. The participants represented diverse social classes, educational backgrounds, and age groups. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide containing questions related to interactional harms, with each interview lasting approximately 90 minutes on average. The qualitative data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-stage method. Ethical principles, including obtaining written informed consent, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity, respecting privacy during interviews, and providing general results to participants upon request, were adhered to.
Findings
The analysis yielded 602 statements extracted from the interviews, which were initially categorized into 54 preliminary themes. These were further organized into nine organizing themes (maternal interactional harms, paternal interactional harms, nuclear family interactional harms, extended family interactional harms, sibling interactional harms, skill deficiencies, impulsive interactional behaviors, school-related harms, and harmful social interactions) and four final themes (interactional harms related to the parental subsystem, interactional harms arising from familial issues, interactional harms stemming from psychological problems, and interactional harms associated with social interactions).
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings indicate that substance-dependent women experienced interactional harms prior to their addiction, which predisposed them to substance use and increased the likelihood of sustained addiction. Key findings include difficulties in forming friendships, frequent paternal absence, negative family emotions, having an emotionally distant spouse, pre-marital relationships or sexual assault, school-related problems, and challenges in peer relationships, all of which contribute to interactional harms influencing the onset and relapse of substance use. Based on these results, it is recommended that researchers, psychologists, and counselors develop educational packages focused on fostering healthy family and kinship relationships, as well as awareness programs for women and girls regarding interactional harms related to addiction. These should be implemented through preventive workshops addressing social deviance and harms for women and girls.
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