Reframing the impact of parental divorce: insights from young adults’ perceptions

Abstract

This study employs a phenomenological approach to explore how young adults perceive and make sense of parental divorce experienced during their childhood. While existing literature often focuses on negative effects, such as emotional stress and disrupted family dynamics, this research seeks to examine both the challenges and opportunities for personal growth. By emphasising the complexity and diversity of post-divorce experiences, the study aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the long-term impacts of parental divorce. Utilising a thematic analysis of deliberately unstructured, free-flowing interviews with eight young adults who experienced divorce in their childhood, this research provides a multi-layered and multi-faceted portrayal aimed at better supporting the children of divorce through the longer-term unconscious process of coming to terms with what has happened. By amplifying the voices of those directly impacted, this research aims to inform interventions that address the immediate effects of parental separation and to foster resilience and positive development in individuals’ later lives. This nuanced understanding can help refine strategies under the Children Act 1989 to better support families during and after transitions caused by divorce, making a significant contribution to the field and fostering a sense of empathy in the audience.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Social Work Practice, 2026 · DOI ↗