Table 1.

Thematic framework of the results

	Subthemes
1. Individual, family and relationship factors
Abuse	Financial/economic: controlling of income, forcing to work, stealing money, unauthorised use of credit cards, forcing to obtain loans. Psychological: humiliation, threatening to take custody of children, restricting personal contacts, forcing not to talk to family and friends. Physical: beating, slapping, pulling hair and choking.
Physical health problems	Multiple chronic illness, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia.
Bereavement	Lack of family support, difficulty in attending counselling, no social support networks in the neighbourhood.
Sexual infidelity	Social and emotional isolation.
Ageing and isolation	Difficulties in living with children's families, isolation, extra workloads such as child caring for grandchildren.
2. Culture and migration
Stress of divorce and separation	Negative response from family and community, cultural taboos on second marriage, loss of identity, fear and uncertainty of children.
Cultural distance	Parents: worry concerning westernizing of children, out of culture marriages. Children: restricted family environments, strict rules, arranged marriages.
Stigma	Labelling as a mentally ill, isolation from community
Difficulties in new country	Loss of expectation, lack of understanding of systems, language difficulties.
3. Socioeconomic factors
Economic difficulties	Lack of income from government income support programs, loss of jobs
Discrimination and racism	Unfair treatments, racist acts, acts of hatred, discrimination for jobs