Investigating the role of social and psychological factors on empowerment of rural Female-headed Households, Supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (Case study: Abas Abad Township)

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

 Today, the empowerment of rural women, particularly rural headed-households is a vital component in development efforts. This study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the role of social and psychological factors on female-headed household empowerment. The population of this study included 400 rural female-headed households supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation. Through simple random sampling method, 208 respondents were selected. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the panel of faculty members in University of Zanjan. A pilot study was conducted to establish reliability of the instrument. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the main scales of questionnaire were at appropriate level (between .82 to .90). The collected data was analyzed by using structural equation modeling multivariate technique. The results showed that psychological, social health and political-social participation factors had significant relationships with empowerment of rural female-headed household. Therefore, enhancing and developing the training in psychological and social aspects were suggested in order to promote the empowerment of female-headed household.

Keywords


  1. Ahmadi, H. (2006). Survey and Evaluation on Managerial Ability of Women: A Case Study Shiraz city, Women in Development & Politics,4(3): 77-96. In Persian
  2. AminiYakhdani, M. (2009). The Role of Employmentin theHealth of Female-Headed Households, The Second Conferenceon Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households, 17-40.In Persian
  3. Ayat, S., Azamian, E. (2011) Impacts of Information and Communication Technology on Empowerment of Rural Women (Text in Persian), Journal of Rural Development Studies, (3): 151-164.In Persian.
  4. Buzarjomehri, kh.&Ahmadiyanshalchi, N., (2009).Determiningthe Socio-economic Status andRuralFemale-Headed Householdshousing (Sample:SystemQuliMashhad), TheSecond Conference on Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households, 65-68.In Persian
    1. Chang, l., Liu, C. (2010). “Employee empowerment, innovative behavior and job productivity of public health nurses: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey”, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(-): 1442–1448.
    2. Fami,S. Ghasemi, J., chubchiyan, S., & Faiz Allah Zadeh, S. (2009).Sustainable Livelihoods, New approach in Poverty Alleviation and the Empowerment ofRural Female-Headed Households, TheSecond Conference on Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households, 365-341. In Persian
    3. Foruzan, S., Biglariyan, A. (2003). Female-headed households: Opportunities and Challenges, 1(5): 35-58. In Persian
    4. Gangadharappa, H., Pramod, K., and Shiva, K. (2007). Gastric floating drug delivery systems: A review. Indian J. Pharm. Ed. Res., 41, pp. 295- 305.
    5. Gholipour, A., Rahimian, A. (2011). Economic, Cultural, and Educational Factors Related to Empowerment of Head-of-Household Women (Text in Persian), Social Welfare Quarterly, 6(40): 29-62. In Persian
    6. Iravani, M. (2011). A ComparativeReview of the Mental Healthof the Working Female-Headed HouseholdsandWorking Ordinary WomeninSariTownship,Cultural-DefenseQuarterlyWomen and Families, (17): 117-145.In Persian
    7. IFAD )2011(, Women and rural Development, Retrieved from: www.ifwww.ifad.org, www.ruralpovertyportal.org.
    8. Javaan, J., Yaasouri, M., rahnama. M., & AhmadiyaanShaalch. N. (2008).  The study of economical situation of rural women who are in charge of their families case study: Mashhad Gholi rural system (Text in Persian), Journal Of Geography and Regional Development Reseach Journal, (11): 19-35. In Persian
    9. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (seven ed.). United State of Amreica: Pearson prentice hall.
    10. Kazemi pour, S. (2009). Analysis of the Employment opportunities for Female-Headed Households, TheSecond Conference on Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households, 403-426. In Persian
    11. Ketabi, M., Yazd khasti, B., & Farajirastabi, z. (2003).Empowering Women in order to participate in development, 1(7): 5-30.In Persian
    12. Kline, R. B. (2010). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling: The Guilford Press.
      1. Koulaee, E., Taheri, E. (2010).The impact of Women's Empowerment in Rural Development, in Iran.50-65.In Persian
      2. Kimiaee S. (2011). Methods Used for Empowering Head-of-Household Women. Social Welfare, 11 (40) :63-92. In Persian
      3. Larkin, Mary E., Cierpial, Chelby L., stack, joanM., morrison, Victoria J., & Griffith, Catherine A. (2008). “Empowerment Theory in Action: the Wisdom of Collaborative Governance”, The online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14-31.
      4. Mardani, A. (2009). Typology of female-headed households and to compare them with male-headed households in urban areas of Tehran,Secend Congress synergies and empowerment of female-headed households, 449-472. In Persian
      5. Marimuthu, S. (2008). “Gender Discrimination and Women's Development in India”, Munich Personal RePEc Archive,1-15.
      6. Mokomane, Z. (2012). “Role of Families in Social and Economic Empowerment”, of Individuals United Nations Expert Group Meeting on “Promoting Empowerment of People in Achieving Poverty Eradication, Social Integration and Full Employment and Decent Work for All, 1-15.
      7. Nahavandi, M., Ajorloo, S. (2009). A Study on the Status of Female-Headed Households, with Emphasis on the Subway Female Peddler, TheSecond Conference on Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households, 513-533. In Persian
      8. Nazoktabar, H., Veysi, R. (2008). Social status cultural and economic Mazandaran province of female-headed households, Quarterly Social Welfare, 7(27): 95-113.In Persian
      9. Nega, F. Mathijis, E. Deckers, Jpsef. Tollens, Eric (2009) “Gender, social capital and empowerment in northern Ethiopia”, 1-32.
      10. OECD “(2012) Women’s economic empowerment”, 1-39.
      11. PishgahiFard, Z. TajaliArdakani, F. KazemiyanAmiri, M. (2009). Design and Testing the Methods of Empowering ofFemale-HeadedHouseholds, TheSecond Conference on Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households,89-111. In Persian
      12. Qashqaei, G.,  ShafiAbadi, A., & BaqerSanaei, B. (2011).  A Survey of the Impact of Reality Therapy and Feminist Therapy Group Counseling on Changing the Identity and Self-esteem of Female Householders (Text in Persian), Cultural Education Quarterly,Women and Families, (18): 8-50. In Persian
      13. Rita Men, L, (2011),. “How employee empowerment influences organization–employee relationship in China”, Public Relations Review ,37(-): 435– 437.
      14. RezaeeGhadi, Kh. (2009). Empowerment indices of Female-Headed Households, TheSecond Conference on Females’ abilities and the empowerment of female-headed households, 179-199. In Persian
      15. Sabokbar, F.,  Khaki, A., & Nemati, M. (2009). The evaluation of ICTs on rural women abilities The Case: Gharnabad, Geography, (22): 1-15. In Persian
      16. Sadeghi, A. (2009).Female-headed householdsandthe socialand individualharmbeforeit, Secend Congress synergies and empowerment of female-headed households, 225-251. In Persian
      17. SaeiArasi, I., Vali pour, S. (2009).  Identifying the FactorsAffectingWomen'sEmpowermentfor Partnership in SocialDevelopment (Case Studyprovince lorestan), Behavioral SciencesQuarterly, 67-101.In Persian
      18. Sam Aram, E., AminiYakhdani, M. (2009).  Review of the Health Situation of Women Heads of House Holds, Supported by the Social Welfare Organization of Qom,Shiite women (21): 133-160. In Persian
      19. SeyedMirzaee, S., Abdollahi, Z., & KamarBeygi, K. (2011). Investigation of the RelationshipbetweenSocial FactorsandSocialSecurity AmongFemale-Headed Households (case Study: Women,Ilam city), Quarterly Social Security Studies, 79-108.In Persian
      20. Shakuri, A., rafatjah, M., & jafari, M. (2007).An Analysis of Factors Affecting Women's  Empowerment Components, Women in Development & Politics, 5(1): 1-26. In Persian
      21. Sharifi ,M., Asadi, A., Kalantari, K., & Agahi, H. (2010). Factors Affecting Self-Sufficiency of Female-Headed Households Case Study of Households in Kurdistan Province, women s studies (Sociological & Psychological), (4): 121-141. In Persian
      22. Simmons, S. (1994). “Quality of life in community mental healthcare”, Journal of nurse student, 31: 679-683.

Tatina Boldaji L., Foruzan A., & Rafiey H. (2011). Quality of Life of Head-of-Household Women: a Comparison between those Supported by Welfare Organization and those with Service Jobs .Social Welfare, (40) :9-28. In Persian