Volume 20, Issue 80 (9-2026)
Research on Addiction 2026, 20(80): 237-260 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
zarei S. A Qualitative Analysis of the Formation of the Relapse Trajectory: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Men During Abstinence. Research on Addiction 2026; 20 (80) :237-260
URL: http://etiadpajohi.ir/article-1-3442-en.html
URL: http://etiadpajohi.ir/article-1-3442-en.html
Associate professor, Department of Psychology, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
Abstract: (263 Views)
Objective: The present study aimed to explore the trajectory of relapse through the lived experiences of men during abstinence. Method: This qualitative study employed an interpretative phenomenological approach. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 11 men residing in Tehran who had experienced a relapse following at least a three-month period of abstinence within the past year. Participants were selected using purposive maximum variation and snowball sampling techniques. Data analysis was conducted based on the six-step approach proposed by Smith et al. Results: The data analysis yielded four main themes: 1) self-regulatory system dysfunction, 2) lack of interpersonal support and harmful relational networks, 3) structural barriers and the failure of formal support systems, and 4) identity crisis and the collapse of the self-reconstruction process. Conclusion: The findings indicated that relapse occurs when an individual simultaneously confronts overwhelming, uncontrollable emotions; familial and societal rejection; limited employment opportunities; and an inability to construct a new identity. These results underscore the necessity of designing coordinated, multidimensional support programs to transform the abstinence phase from a period of cumulative deprivation into a well-supported journey.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/05/22 | Accepted: 2026/08/27 | Published: 2026/09/10
Received: 2026/05/22 | Accepted: 2026/08/27 | Published: 2026/09/10
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
