A Phenomenological Analysis of the Psychological Consequences of Divorce on the Family of Origin: Examining the Experiences of Parents of Divorcing Couples

Subject Areas : Islamic-Iranian Family Studies Journal

Saedah Abdollahi tezerjan ¹ , Maryam Sadeghi fard ² , Emad Yousefi ³

1 -
2 - PhD in counseling, Assistant professor, Department of counseling, Facalty of Humanities, university of Hormozgan, Bandarabbas, Iran
3 - PhD in counseling, Assistant professor, Department Of Psychology and Educational Science, Qeshm Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran

Received: 2024-11-28 Accepted : 2026-01-15 Published : 2025-02-20

Keywords: Divorce, Family of Origin, Descriptive Phenomenology, Psychological Consequences, Lived Experiences, Family Interactions,

Abstract :

Introduction: Divorce is a multifaceted social phenomenon shaped by individual, social, economic, cultural, and political factors. This study, adopting a descriptive phenomenological approach, examines the psychological consequences of divorce on the family of origin and explores the experiences of parents of divorcing couples. Method: The research was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological method. Participants included the parents of 12 divorcing couples in the city of Yazd, selected through purposive criterion-based sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the descriptive phenomenological data analysis method. Finding: The results of data analysis indicated that the psychological consequences of divorce on the family of origin can be classified into three main dimensions: 1- Emotional tensions (including parental anxiety, depression, and guilt), 2- Changes in social interactions (such as reduced social acceptance and stigmatization), and 3-Cognitive-behavioral consequences (such as a sense of failure in parenting and decreased trust in the institution of marriage). Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the profound impact of divorce on the parents of divorcing couples. These results can be beneficial for family counselors, social policymakers, and cultural planners in mitigating the negative consequences of divorce and providing supportive interventions for affected families.

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