Iranian Women Challenges In Childless Couple stage: A Qualitative Study

The childless couple stage is one of the most significant points of marriage. This stage depends on the compatibility of the couple, as well as new responsibilities that must be taken. In some cases, the challenges the women face in this stage may lead to marital frustration, an extramarital relationship, and even divorce among Iranian couples. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate women’s challenges during the childless couple stage. The study adopted a qualitative research design. A convenience sample of married women in their first five years of marriage, parents, and family counselors, provided the data through interviews. These interviews were digitally-recorded and transcribed. After analyzing the data using grounded theory, 13 categories and 3 themes were obtained, including Family-related issues, marriage-related issues, and social-related issues. The Iranian women participating in this study indicated that sexuality, lack of marital skills, and their husband’s extended family as their most significant challenges. This study has some implications for practitioners and researchers.