Mental health of women after divorce: A study in Ho Chi Minh City

Le Do Yen Huong * and Nguyen Ngoc Quynh Anh

* Corresponding author: (devon676@gmail.com)

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Received: Nov 8, 2025
Revised: Dec 9, 2025
Accepted: Dec 11, 2025
Published: Jun 20, 2026
Title: Mental health of women after divorce: A study in Ho Chi Minh City
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How to Cite
Hương, L. Đ. Y., & Anh, N. N. Q. (2026). Mental health of women after divorce: A study in Ho Chi Minh City. Journal of Science and Education, 66(03), 18-25. Retrieved from https://tckhgd.dhsphue.edu.vn/index.php/jse/article/view/300
Issue
Vol. 66 No. 03 (2026): Journal of Science and Education: Social Science and Humanities
Section
Journal of Science and Education: Social Science and Humanities

Abstract

This study aims to examine the mental health status of divorced women in Ho Chi Minh City. The sample consisted of 79 divorced women recruited through convenience sampling. The instruments used included the CES-D-10 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), PSS-SR5 (post-traumatic stress symptoms), and the PERMA-Profiler (well-being). The results show that nearly half of the women exhibited symptoms of depression (48.1%), and more than half reported anxiety (50.2%) or stress symptoms (50.6%), indicating a substantial level of emotional distress in this population. Nevertheless, well-being indicators remained moderately high, suggesting that positive psychological resources—such as life meaning, social connectedness, and positive emotions—were still maintained among a portion of these women. This finding aligns with Keyes’ dual-continua model, which posits that mental illness and well-being can coexist. The study recommends that support programs for divorced women should simultaneously target the reduction of emotional distress and the enhancement of internal strengths to facilitate the post-divorce adjustment process.
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Divorced women, Mental health, Well-being

Tóm tắt

Nghiên cứu này nhằm khảo sát thực trạng sức khỏe tâm thần của phụ nữ sau ly hôn tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Mẫu nghiên cứu gồm 79 phụ nữ sau ly hôn được lựa chọn bằng phương pháp chọn mẫu thuận tiện. Các thang đo được sử dụng bao gồm CES-D-10 (trầm cảm), GAD-7 (lo âu), PSS-SR5 (căng thẳng sau sang chấn), và PERMA-Profiler (an lạc). Kết quả cho thấy gần một nửa số phụ nữ có triệu chứng trầm cảm (48,1%) và hơn một nửa có lo âu (50,2%) hoặc căng thẳng (50,6%), phản ánh mức độ rối nhiễu cảm xúc đáng kể ở nhóm đối tượng này. Tuy vậy, các chỉ báo an lạc vẫn đạt mức trung bình khá, cho thấy các yếu tố tích cực như ý nghĩa cuộc sống, gắn kết xã hội và cảm xúc tích cực vẫn được duy trì ở một bộ phận phụ nữ sau ly hôn. Kết quả nghiên cứu phù hợp với mô hình hai liên tục của Keyes (Keyes’ Dual Continua Model of Mental Health), cho thấy well-being và các vấn đề về sức khỏe tinh thần là hai cấu trúc có thể biến thiên độc lập tương đối; do đó, ngay cả khi xuất hiện các triệu chứng rối nhiễu tâm lý, một mức độ well-being nhất định vẫn có thể được duy trì. Nghiên cứu đề xuất các chương trình hỗ trợ phụ nữ sau ly hôn cần tập trung đồng thời vào giảm triệu chứng rối nhiễu và tăng cường sức mạnh nội tại nhằm thúc đẩy quá trình thích ứng sau ly hôn.
Từ khóa: Sức khỏe tâm thần, Phụ nữ sau ly hôn, Trầm cảm, Lo âu, An lạc

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