English abstract
The overall aim of the study is to reveal the conditions of divorced women in the context of the Omani contemporary society. The specific objectives of study are as follows: to uncover the size of the phenomenon of divorce, its geographical distribution, and the demographic characteristics of the divorcees; to identify the status of women after divorce in terms of accommodation arrangements, maintenance, and network of roles and relationships, and to identify the most important problems of divorced Omani women, and mechanisms for adaptation with post-divorce problems.
The study was based on the exploratory approach, which combined quantitative and qualitative methods. The study sample AV divorced women selected from Wilayat Al Seeb in Muscat Governorate. In sample selection specific criteria were taken into account such as differences in age, educational level, employment condition, standard of living, duration of marriage, length of divorce, the type of divorce, number of children, children custody, and place of residence. The study was based on the questionnaire as the main tool for data collection.
The study obtained many results that could be summarized according to the themes of the research as follows: With regard to first theme, "post-divorce accommodation and maintenance arrangements "; the study found that nearly half of the sample lives in independent dwellings, while one third of the sample lives with their natal families. The study showed that more than two-thirds of the sample changed conditions of their residence, many of them changed to a worse situation than it was during the marriage, and most of whom suffer from inadequate income. The study also showed that nearly two-thirds of the sample experienced some change in their living conditions
after divorce, and a good number of them changed for the worse.
With regard to second theme, "network of relationships and roles after divorce" the study showed a strong attachment of the divorced woman with her family; that more than half of respondents do not maintain a direct relationship with their ex-husbands; more than half of the of respondents maintained normal relationship with the family of their ex-husbands; more than three-quarters of the sample still had a good relationship with their female friends; almost two-thirds maintained good relations with her neighbours; and nearly two-thirds did not experience changes the network of their relationships and roles after divorce.
As for the third theme, "post-divorce problems," the study showed that most respondents are suffering from post-divorce problems. The study confirmed the diversity of problems after divorce led by financial problems, problems concerning the pattern of residence and housing conditions, particular problems of not being able to raise children, harassment of parents, the problem of finding a job, the problems of litigation, and the problem of emotional deprivation.
The fourth theme addresses the "mechanisms of adaptation of women with post-divorce problems". Most of the sample who are experiencing problems after divorce, have the ability to deal with the problems despite the diversity of this capability, as nearly two-thirds of the sample displayed effective ability to solve these problems,. More than half of the sample who are experiencing problems trying to use for others to search for mechanisms to solve them. The majority of respondents, who may legitimately have the chance to return to their ex-husbands, are not interested in doing so. As for leisure, the study showed that the majority of the respondents spend their spare time in visiting relatives and acquaintances, or watching media programmes.
