Making Sense of War: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Meaning-Making and Psychological Experiences among Iranian Civilians Following the June 2025 Armed Conflict

<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background</bold> Armed conflicts profoundly affect civilian populations, producing psychological consequences that extend beyond diagnosable mental disorders to encompass disruptions in identity, interpersonal trust, and meaning-making. Understanding these lived experiences is essential for developing culturally responsive mental health interventions in conflict-affected settings. <bold>Objective</bold> This study explored the lived psychological experiences and meaning-making processes of Iranian civilians following the June 2025 armed conflict using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). <bold>Methods</bold> Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve Iranian civilians (six women and six men; aged 27–52 years). Data were analysed using the six-stage Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework described by Smith, Flowers, and Larkin (2022). Data analysis was iterative, inductive, and reflexive to ensure a rich understanding of participants' lived experiences. <bold>Results</bold> Five superordinate themes were identified: (1) Living Under Persistent Threat; (2) Emotional Fragmentation; (3) Fractured Relationships and Social Connectedness; (4) Reconstructing Meaning; and (5) Living Beyond the War. Together, these themes illustrate how participants navigated fear, psychological disruption, social disconnection, and the gradual reconstruction of personal meaning and resilience in the aftermath of armed conflict. <bold>Conclusions</bold> The findings demonstrate that the psychological impact of war extends beyond clinical symptoms, profoundly affecting identity, trust, social relationships, and existential meaning. The coexistence of community solidarity and institutional distrust highlights the importance of culturally informed psychological interventions and trauma-informed mental health services. These findings contribute to the growing literature on war-related psychological adaptation and provide evidence to inform mental health policy and humanitarian responses in conflict-affected populations. </p>