Strategies for Dealing with Psychological Stress among Widowed Women in Jordan

Authors

Suhaila Banat, Amman Arab University - JordanFollow
Ahmed Al-Shareefen, Amman Arab University - JordanFollow
Fuad Al-Jawaldeh, Amman Arab University - JordanFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35192/jjoas-h.v24i1.5

Abstract

This study aimed to identify strategies for dealing with stress among widowed women in Jordan. The sample consisted of 119 widows who were visiting the Sweileh and Mabarat Umm al-Hussein orphanage centers. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers developed a stress management strategies scale consisting of 67 items divided into ten strategies. The results of the study indicated that the strategy of religious orientation was the most commonly used strategy among widowed women, while the strategies of verbal and physical aggression ranked last. The findings also showed that there were statistically significant differences in widows’ responses to both the cognitive methods strategy and the physical movement strategy based on age, favoring those in the 20-39 age range. Additionally, differences were found in the strategy of practicing certain habits, which were attributed to age and favored those in the 40-60 age group. Moreover, the results revealed statistically significant differences in widows’ responses to both the cognitive methods and religious orientation strategies due to the number of years of widowhood, with widows who had been widowed for five years or more showing greater reliance on these strategies. Conversely, statistically significant differences were observed in responses to the strategies of verbal aggression and the practice of certain habits among those who had been widowed for less than five years. However, the results did not reveal any statistically significant differences in widows’ responses to the remaining strategies concerning the study variables. Based on these results, the researchers recommend enhancing the role of psychological counseling services offered to widows through counseling programs focused on training in strategies for coping with psychological pressures, as well as conducting more studies on widowed women.

Recommended Citation

Banat, Suhaila; Al-Shareefen, Ahmed; and Al-Jawaldeh, Fuad (2020) "Strategies for Dealing with Psychological Stress among Widowed Women in Jordan," Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series: Vol. 24: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35192/jjoas-h.v24i1.5
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/jjoas-h/vol24/iss1/5