PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES AND MEANING-MAKING OF WOMEN WITH INVOLUNTARY CHILDLESSNESS FROM AN ISLAMIC PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Sundari Mutia Riefani, Yudistira Fauzi Indrawan

Abstract


This study explored the psychological experiences and meaning-making of women experiencing involuntary childlessness through their subjective accounts of married life without the expected presence of children. A qualitative design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed with three women selected purposively according to the study criteria. Data were collected through flexible, non-directive, semi-structured in-depth interviews and field notes. Transcripts were analyzed idiographically through repeated reading, descriptive, linguistic, and conceptual initial noting, the development of emergent themes, within-case analysis, and cross-case analysis. Islamic Psychology was used as an interpretive lens rather than a predetermined coding framework. Seven cross-case themes were identified: becoming a mother as a hope that gives meaning to married life; living through uncertainty; living amid social expectations of motherhood; gradually learning to face loss; finding strength through close others; finding ways to continue living; and discovering new meanings from the journey. The findings indicate that involuntary childlessness involves interconnected psychological, relational, social, and spiritual processes. Hope remained important while participants developed ways to regulate emotions, sustain relationships, cope with uncertainty, and reconstruct meaning through ikhtiar, sabr, tawakkul, qadar, ikhlas, shukr, and husnuzan. Overall, the findings suggest that psychological adaptation involved maintaining hope while gradually developing acceptance of uncertainty, loss, and limits of personal control.

Keywords


Involuntary Childlessness; Psychological Experiences; Meaning-making; Islamic Psychology; Coping;

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/jai.v15i4.31799

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