Barriers of Adaptability with Spouse Death in Martyrs’ Wives

Aims Spouse death is problematic for women, especially for women who lack economic independence and have no shelter, and it causes confusion for them. This study aimed to identify the barriers of adaptability with spouse death in wives of martyrs who defended the holy shrine. Participants & Methods This qualitative study aimed to identify the barriers of adaptability with spouse death in wives of martyrs of holy shrine defenders from December 2019 to June 2020. The statistical sample of 12 women aged 20-40 years was selected through purposive sampling. The subjects had lost their spouses between 2-4 years. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions and analyzed by Granheim and Landman method. Findings Barriers of adaptability in martyrs’ wives included psychological instability, upsetting with the spouse’s family, emotional emptiness of losing a spouse, problems of children, feeling lonely, incorrect beliefs and behavior, the weak performance of related organizations, and emotional inhibition. Conclusion The families of the martyrs, who defended the holy shrine, especially their young wives, face individual and social problems, which sometimes are impossible to solve alone, and therefore it is necessary to take the strategies to solve them.