A Phenomenological Study of the Psychological Experience of Tehran Residents During the 12-Day Imposed War: The Lived Experience of Staying in the City or Leaving It

Subject Areas : social psychology

Peyman Dousti ¹ , Narges Hosseininia ²

1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, ST.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Department of Psychology, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-07-01 Accepted : 2025-07-30 Published : 2025-09-22

Keywords: 12-day imposed war, phenomenology of lived experience, Tehran residents, staying or leaving,

Abstract :

This study aimed to describe the lived psychological experiences of Tehran residents during the 12-day imposed war and subsequent ceasefire, focusing on two groups: those who remained in Tehran and those who left the city. This research employed a qualitative, descriptive-phenomenological design. The target population included all residents of Tehran, from which 32 participants were voluntarily selected and divided into two groups of 16. Sampling was conducted through a public call posted on social media. After 29 interviews, data saturation was achieved, and three additional interviews were conducted to ensure saturation and equalize group sizes. Data were collected between June 25 and June 28, 2025 (the first week of the ceasefire). The data collection tool consisted of semi-structured online interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis based on Colaizzi (1978) phenomenological method. Findings indicated that both groups experienced anxiety and fear. However, for those who stayed, anxiety was more self-focused, while for those who left, it centered more on concern for loved ones. Both groups reported a shift toward less rigidity in their approach to daily matters after facing the war. Shared themes included experiences of psychological grief, distrust in the ceasefire, and strengthened family and social relationships. Nonetheless, those who stayed primarily experienced a form of collective grief, whereas those who left expressed grief related to the loss of home, place-based attachment, and their former lives. Staying residents perceived their connection to home as a source of comfort, while those who left faced a crisis of spatial belonging. These findings indicate that, regardless of the decision to stay or leave, war leaves profound and lasting psychological impacts on individuals. However, the nature and orientation of these experiences differ, highlighting the need for psychosocial interventions tailored to the specific lived experiences of each group.

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