Loneliness and Social Support of Separated and Widowed Women: In Relation to Mental Health

By : Sarika Boora, Aastha Jain

Page No: 675-682

Abstract
Losing a life partner is like uprooting a tree which is fully grown. The roots that held the tree in its place, don’t stay with the tree anymore, makes the dead tree lifeless and fragile. An Indian woman is worshipped as a goddess and on the other hand has to face negative remarks and attitude by people after she separates from her husband, or becomes a widow. The aim of the study was to investigate the “LONELINESS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT OF SEPARATED AND WIDOWED WOMEN: EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH”. A sample of 25 divorced/separated women and 25 widowed women were selected through purposive sampling .The participants were taken from homes, family court and a non-government organisation situated in Delhi. The age range of the participants was from 20 to 50 years. A negative correlation of 0.70 came out between mental health and loneliness of divorced/separated woman, and a negative correlation of 0.71 came between that of widowed women. A positive correlation was computed between the mental health and social support of divorced/separated women and widowed women as 0.87 and 0.60 respectively. It was implicated that though the government has laws to prohibit practices like sati, but still they can take more steps at the ground level to enhance the reputation of the women who are separated from their husbands, or are widows.

Authors :
Sarika Boora
She is currently the head psychologist and Director of Sambhrti-Centre for Mental Health which started in 2018. Prior to this she has worked with IGNOU, DU, GD Goenka Univ, Army Hospital R & R etc as Assistant Professor. She has also worked as consultant psychologist with ISIC, Park Hospital, Artemis Hospital. She has wide experience in academics, research alongwith hospital experiences as psychologist.

Aastha Jain
He is currently working in the field of psycho-oncology with a pan India organisation, Cankids...Kidscan. She also conducts trainings for psychology students and fellow mental health professionals. Her passion lies in the field of clinical psychology and research. She has also qualified NET.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2020.15.02.28