The study explored widows’ social isolation and the stigma experienced in a rural South Africa setting. Participants were a purposive sample of 10 widows (black = 95%; age range 30 to 60 years old). The widows completed semi-structured individual interviews on their sense of community. Thematic analysis indicated that widows self-perceived as a social burden to extended family and to experience a deep sense of social isolation and loneliness, dealing with their grief and loss. The widows reported to lack in social support after the death of their partners and to be treated to humiliating cultural stereotypes. Implied guilt by the in-laws and other family members about the widows’ involvement in the death of their partners is a recurrent influence in the widowhood experience in a South African rural setting.

该研究探讨了寡妇的社会隔离和南非农村地区遭受的污名。参与者是10个寡妇的有目的样本（黑人= 95％；年龄范围30至60岁）。寡妇根据他们的社区意识完成了半结构化的个人访谈。专题分析表明，寡妇自认为是大家庭的社会负担，并经历了深刻的社会孤立感和孤独感，正视他们的悲伤和失落。据报告，寡妇在伴侣死亡后缺乏社会支持，被视为侮辱文化定型观念。岳母和其他家庭成员对寡妇参与其伴侣的死亡表示内，这是南非农村环境中丧偶经历的反复影响。