The contexts of living apart together in Iran and how couples react; A qualitative study

Mohammadzadeh, Hamideh; Kanani, Mohammad Amin; Mousavi, Hashem; Yaghoobi, Ali

doi:10.22035/jicr.2025.3400.3655

The contexts of living apart together in Iran and how couples react; A qualitative study

Document Type : Scientific Research Manuscript

Authors

Hamideh Mohammadzadeh ¹

Mohammad Amin Kanani ²

Hashem Mousavi ³

Ali Yaghoobi ²

¹ PhD Student in Cultural Sociology, Department of Social Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Social Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Social Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

10.22035/jicr.2025.3400.3655

Abstract

This research investigates living apart together couples and the contexts and conditions related to living apart together as one of the elements of transformation in the family institution. The research participants included LATs, and 15 of them were interviewed using the purposeful sampling method. The current research was carried out by applying the qualitative method and using the interview technique (intensive, semi-structured, and open) to collect information until reaching theoretical saturation. Mayring's qualitative content analysis approach and Software NVivo10 were used to extract and analyze the findings. The findings from the interviews include 28 Initial concepts, 8 sub-categories and, 2 main categories. Participants chose two priority themes for the LAT. They are: 1) social, economic, and family contexts, and 2. Individuality contexts. Also, the reasons for living apart together are different between men and women. Most men cite economic factors, job conditions, and a desire to study as the reasons for being LAT. They emphasize the coercive nature of these conditions. Women, however, attribute their LAT to the job conditions and a desire for education. They see it as an opportunity for their individuality, privacy, and independence. It seems that the LATs of Iranian couples are not a change in family forms, but a change in their content.

Keywords

Desire for education

LAT

family

emigration

individuality

subjectivity

Subjects

Sociology of the Family

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