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Diminished Quality of Life and Psychosocial Strain of Women Under the New Taliban Era: A Thematic Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Heer Shah

    (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA)

  • Jessi Hanson-DeFusco

    (Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 W 10 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48075, USA)

  • Hamid Popalzai

    (Afghanistan Technical Vocational Institute (ATVI), AIT Compound-MoHE, Kart-e Char, Kabul, Afghanistan)

  • Nandita Kumar

    (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA)

  • Sakil Malik

    (School of Education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA)

  • Anton Sobolev

    (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA)

  • Min Shi

    (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA)

  • Ravin Regina Cline

    (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
    Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, USA)

  • Sonali Singh

    (School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA)

  • Albert DeFusco

    (Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)

  • Alexis McMaster

    (Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)

Abstract

Background: Life for women drastically altered after the 2021 US-NATO military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Methods: Applying a gendered general strain theory (GGST) model, this paper presents mixed-method findings from a 2023 semi-structured digital survey of 29 Afghan women, identifying key shared hardships concerning the daily lives of Afghan women (ages 18–65) and psychosocial stress. Results: A thematic analysis of their responses indicates that support for the Taliban’s return to power ranges among women; however, respondents experience diminished quality-of-life (DQOL) factors like persistent food insecurity that affect their views of the current government and affect their psychosocial health. Furthermore, most struggle with financial insecurity and growing governmental restrictions, particularly gender discrimination policies (GDP), further increasing their stress as they try to acclimate to the new political environment. Additionally, we triangulate the key qualitative findings with a statistical analysis to help illustrate emerging patterns between DQOL factors, GDP experiences, and psychosocial stress (PSS). Conclusions: This study is one of the first known semi-structured surveys conducted within the country of Afghanistan after the Taliban reseized control, offering crucial insights into life of Afghan women through their own intimate experiences and perspectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Heer Shah & Jessi Hanson-DeFusco & Hamid Popalzai & Nandita Kumar & Sakil Malik & Anton Sobolev & Min Shi & Ravin Regina Cline & Sonali Singh & Albert DeFusco & Alexis McMaster, 2025. "Diminished Quality of Life and Psychosocial Strain of Women Under the New Taliban Era: A Thematic Analysis," Societies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-28, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:16:y:2025:i:1:p:9-:d:1826901
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