There is some belief that a child's growing up years shape their personality and I think these women might be good examples of this.
Salma is calm, steady, loving, and provides a safe home for her children even moving to someplace safe, out of her homeland, when her house is taken over by soldiers. We know nothing about her childhood or early adult life except that she and her husband had an orange grove farm.
Widad has coped with the disruption of her environment by turning inward - she has retreated to her own inner calm, devotion, and shields herself from life with her veils and dress, and by moving to safety with an older, calm, more established husband.
Alia has mostly been raised in a comfortable, steady, wealthy environment in Jordan. She has the luxury of being wilder than her siblings - she disregards religion, is outspoken in a male dominated society, and is somewhat volatile in her interactions.
Riham grew up in Qatar, her conception was perhaps violent as it was after Atef had come home from the 6 day war and Alia and Atef's lovemaking was described as being less spiritual than physical. Her home life was somewhat volatile as well as her mother was very passionate. She, like Widad, turns to stability, calm, certainty, religion, and an older, more established husband.
Manar has grown up mostly in America. Her environment was comfortable although her parent's marriage imploded. She, like Alia, has the luxury of being her own person but her rebellion is different than Alia's or even Souad's. She has an affair with a married man, becomes pregnant, and then travels alone to visit Palestine.
I think these women's personalities and life choices have perhaps evolved based on their young environments.