“I Am Not the First, and I Won’t Be the Last”: Exploring Women’s Coping Strategies in Cohabitation Relationships in Ghana

Despite its prevalence in modern Ghana, cohabitation is still laden with social and cultural consequences due to deeply entrenched societal expectations and the largely conservative Ghanaian culture. In cohabitation, women are scrutinised more than men because they are expected to uphold cultural values, be morally upright, and be socially conscious. These expectations can pose a challenge in handling the conflict between the reality of their situation and their desires for marriage, since they know culture demands marriage rites before moving in with a man. Using a qualitative design, this study investigated how women cope in such non-marital unions. Twelve women shared their experiences through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis revealing three themes (with subthemes in parentheses): Suicidal Ideation (Child maltreatment, Death is final), Hope (In God, Children’s Success) and Solidarity. In examining issues of immense psychological distress, coping through social networks and hope, we delineate the importance of healthy support systems and highlight how suicidal ideation, while not trivial, become a turning point for survival and resilience. We recommend stakeholders collaborate with religious institutions to provide faith-based counselling services that address women’s social, emotional, and mental health needs in cohabiting relationships. Keywords: Cohabitation, coping, relationships, suicidal ideation, Ghana