Silent survivors : lived experiences of ex-wives of problematic substance-using husbands

Abstract

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex issue that not only affects individuals but also strains marital relationships significantly. It leads to emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical consequences in marriages due to erosion of trust and communication, financial hardships, and emotional distress. These effects often result in divorce, with substance abuse cited as a factor in many marital breakups, including in the Maldives where it has contributed to rising divorce rates. Despite this, research on the experiences of spouses with problematic substance users is limited in the Maldives. To address this gap, a qualitative study was conducted, interviewing six women who chose to divorced their substance-abusing husbands. Findings revealed these women took on dual parenting roles due to their husbands' neglect, faced stigma and violence during their marriages, and how the women rediscovered life post-divorce and had to rebuild their lives post-divorce to support their children. In order to ensure that the experiences were the focal point of the research, the results obtained from these interviews were analyzed utilizing IPA. In addition to presenting the study's strengths and limitations, the paper also included suggestions for future research, practice, and policy