Exploring the Post-traumatic Growth in the Frame of Traumatic Experiences among the Single Mothers of Assam

Abstract

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) explains the helpful psychological modifications brought about by getting over tough and stressful life situations. The goal of the current study is to explore the post-traumatic growth of single mothers of Assam, focusing on their subjective experiences and the factors that support their growth following divorce or the loss of a spouse. A qualitative research design was employed, involving twenty single mothers (aged 20–49 years) from both rural (Nagaon, Morigaon, Lakhimpur) and urban (Kamrup Metro, Sonitpur) areas of Assam, using a combination of convenience and purposive sampling. An extensive qualitative dataset was collected using semi-structured interviews, which was thematically analyzed using the Braun and Clarke methodology. To refine data accuracy, qualitative data analysis software, Taguette (a free tool for coding qualitative data), was employed. The findings suggest that single female parents are improving, especially in the areas of financial independence, child companionship, maternal pride, and social support. Key growth facilitators included a resilient personality type, the influence of traditional practices and community involvement, and the empowering effect of education. The study highlights that culture-specific measures, interventions, and support systems are important to facilitate post-traumatic growth of single mothers.