Sociological Analysis of the Social Consequences of Distant Families (Case Study: Drivers of the Snapp Ride-Hailing Company Residing in Tehran in 2024-25)
Akhlāq-i zīstī i.e., Bioethics Journal,
Vol. 16 No. 41 (1405),
19 June 2026
,
Page 1-17
https://doi.org/10.22037/bioeth.v16i41.52020
Abstract
Background and Aim: The aim of this study is to explore and deeply understand the lived experience of long-distance families from the perspective of drivers working on the Snapp internet platform in Tehran, and to analyze the consequences of this type of life.
Methods: This research was conducted using a qualitative method within an interpretive phenomenological approach, so that the lived meaning of this phenomenon could be revealed through participants’ narratives. The target population consisted of Snapp drivers in Tehran who are continuously away from their families for periods of several months. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling based on specific criteria. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The analysis followed the model proposed by Smith et al. (2009), proceeding through six stages including coding, theme extraction, and clustering.
Ethical Considerations: In all research stages, confidentiality was maintained, and informed consent was obtained from participants.
Findings: The findings indicated that the consequences of distance-living can be categorized into two main axes: family-related and social. Examining these consequences within such a context offers a contextualized understanding of the Long-distance phenomenon and investigates the impact of this lifestyle on social structure and family relationships. Thematic analysis revealed that living at a distance not only weakens emotional bonds among family members, but also leads to bio-social insecurity and the erosion of the family’s social capital at the societal level. These consequences challenge the family’s role in cultural and social reproduction. Given the evidence suggesting an increase in the population of such families, this study underscores the need to rethink macro-level employment policies and to design institutional solutions aimed at mitigating its negative effects.
Conclusion: The findings of the study emphasize the need to rethink macro-level policies in the field of population and family, aiming to recognize this type of family (distant families) at the national level through the establishment of a national committee and national systems for registration and monitoring of distant families, strengthening welfare and social security systems to reduce economic and psychological pressures, and designing cultural and educational interventions to maintain family and social bonds.
- Long-distance family
- Family consequences
- Social consequences
- Interpretive phenomenology
- Bio/social insecurity
How to Cite
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