EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES OF MARRIED WOMEN LIVING WITH IN-LAWS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Sponsor
- Manipal College of Health Professions Kasturba Medical College MAHE Manipal
- Enrollment
- 25
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- The primary outcome will be the emergence of core themes that represent how married women perceive, interpret, and emotionally experience cohabitation with in-laws in joint family systems. These themes will capture lived experiences related to autonomy, conflict, support, communication, and cultural expectations, derived through in-depth qualitative analysis.
Overview
Brief Summary
This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of married Indian women residing with their in-laws using a phenomenological approach. It aims to understand key areas of conflict, the strategies employed to navigate in-law relationships, and factors that help reduce familial tensions. Through in-depth interviews conducted online with women aged 25–40 years, married for at least two years and living with their husband’s parents for at least one year, the study will use thematic analysis to identify core themes. The findings are expected to inform culturally sensitive therapeutic practices and premarital counselling interventions to promote healthier family dynamics in joint households.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 25.00 Year(s) to 40.00 Year(s) (—)
- Sex
- Female
Inclusion Criteria
- •The household must include both the mother-in-law (MIL) and father-in-law (FIL), and they must be the husband’s parents.
- •Married women between the ages of 25 to 40 years.
- •Been married for a minimum of 2 years.
- •Currently living in an urban/semi-urban area (1 year).
Exclusion Criteria
- •Married Indian women living in a joint family set-up.
- •Presence of severe conditions like depression or psychosis in either the participant or their in-laws.
- •Presence of dementia, chronic disability, or terminal illness affecting daily functioning in either the participant or their in-laws.
- •Participants undergoing treatment for any medical condition.
- •A recent experience of any major life stressor, bereavement or any significant personal or family crisis.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
The primary outcome will be the emergence of core themes that represent how married women perceive, interpret, and emotionally experience cohabitation with in-laws in joint family systems. These themes will capture lived experiences related to autonomy, conflict, support, communication, and cultural expectations, derived through in-depth qualitative analysis.
Time Frame: The outcome will be assessed at a single time point through one-time, in-depth interviews with married women who have been residing with their in-laws for a minimum of one year.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Sanya Dawar
Department of Clinical Psychology, Manipal College of Health Professions