Development of life meaning as a coping strategy among spouses of PTSD war veterans: A Qualitative Study

Aims: living with PTSD veterans imposes severe stress on veterans’ family members especially veteran’s spouse. Stress of veteran’s illness and lack of support puts great pressure on veteran’s wife and forces her to use unique coping strategies according to the context and conditions to maintain cohesion and advance of life. This study aimed to discover and explore these coping strategies to advance and maintaining cohesion of life. Participants & Methods: this current study was conducted in 2021 by using qualitative content analysis approach. Participants were selected purposely from PTSD veterans’ spouses. Data were collected buy semi-structured interviews with 15 PTSD veterans’ spouses. an‎d then analyzed according to Graneheim and lundman method. Findings: Through analysis of transcribed interviews, one theme and 4 categories and 8 sub categories were extracted. The theme was developing of life meaning and categories include developing value base approach, altruistic preservation, beyond defined gender roles, and mutual beneficial care. Conclusion: In confronting with full of tensions life and lack of support, developing meaning of life can led to wide and deep changes in encyclopedia and the meaning of wives life and this changes can make them better and more optimal confronting to life challenges.