A Comparison of Resilience, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Between Divorced and Non-Divorced Women
Keywords:
Resilience, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Divorced Women, Mental Health, Psychological AdjustmentAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to compare resilience, stress, anxiety, and depression between divorced and non-divorced women.
Methods and Materials: This study employed a causal-comparative (ex post facto) design. The statistical population consisted of divorced and non-divorced women residing in the target city in 2019. The sample included 60 participants, comprising 30 divorced women and 30 non-divorced women, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. After confirming the normality of data distributions, independent samples t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were performed to test the study hypotheses.
Findings: The results of the independent samples t-test revealed a significant difference between divorced and non-divorced women in resilience (t = -2.398, p = 0.020), with non-divorced women reporting higher resilience levels. Significant differences were also found in stress (t = 2.640, p = 0.011), anxiety (t = 2.664, p = 0.010), and depression (t = 3.572, p = 0.001), indicating higher levels of psychological distress among divorced women. Furthermore, MANOVA results demonstrated significant group effects for resilience (F = 5.749, p = 0.020), stress (F = 6.967, p = 0.011), anxiety (F = 7.097, p = 0.010), and depression (F = 12.762, p = 0.001). The largest effect size was observed for depression (η² = 0.180), suggesting that marital status had the strongest influence on depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that divorced women exhibit lower resilience and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared with non-divorced women. These results highlight the substantial psychological impact of divorce and underscore the importance of counseling services, social support programs, and resilience-enhancing interventions aimed at improving mental health and facilitating post-divorce adjustment among women.
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