Navigating intimate relationships of Iranians in the context of immigration: Insights from a qualitative systematic review and empirical investigation

Immigration can create a variety of experiences for individuals and impact their intimate relationships. We conducted two studies to explore how immigration influences people and their intimate relationships. The first study was a qualitative systematic review conducted following the PRISMA statement to explore the perceptions of Iranian immigrants on their intimate relationships. Eighteen studies were included in this review, uncovering four main themes: Women’s Empowerment, Sexual Self-Perception, Marital Conflicts, and Persistence of Patriarchy. The second study involved semi-structured interviews with 12 married Iranian immigrants living in Canada. The analysis revealed five themes related to how immigration influenced marital relationships: Reflection on Gender Norms, Survival to Thriving, Significant Role of the Immediate Family, Differential Experiences of Adaptation Processes, and Paradox of Increased Couple Time. The systematic review provided insights into the experiences of Iranian immigrants abroad and how their intimate relationships can be influenced by the differences between their home and host country. The findings of the empirical study underscored the influence of cultural, social, and structural differences between home and host countries on intimate relationships, aligning with previous findings. Notably, despite facing challenges, participants in Study 2 reported higher relationship satisfaction, in contrast to many studies in the review, highlighting significant difficulties for Iranians in their intimate relationships due to immigration. Findings are contextualized in the discussion.