Mohaddeseh Soltaninejad1 
, Mohammad Hossein Fallah Yakhdani *2 , Saeed Vaziri3 , Marieh Dehghan Manshadi4
, Mohammad Hossein Fallah Yakhdani *2 , Saeed Vaziri3 , Marieh Dehghan Manshadi4
1- 1. Ph.D. candidate in counseling, Department of Psychology and counseling, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
2- 2. Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
3- 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
4- 4. Assistant Professor, Department of counseling, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
2- 2. Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
3- 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
4- 4. Assistant Professor, Department of counseling, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
Abstract: (55 Views)
Background and Objective: Divorce is one of the most significant structural changes in the family, with profound consequences across various aspects of children's lives. Adolescent girls, due to their unique developmental characteristics, are particularly vulnerable to the outcomes of parental divorce. Studies have shown that the effects of divorce on adolescents, especially girls, can be extensive and impactful. However, a deeper understanding of these consequences requires listening to the adolescents’ own voices and examining their lived experiences. This study aimed to provide a more authentic portrayal of life after divorce through the personal narratives of adolescent girls. While the majority of previous research has focused on general variables such as depression, anxiety, or academic decline, the subtle and meaningful dimensions of adolescents’ lives in divorced families have received less attention. Identifying these lived experiences can facilitate the development of effective supportive interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of divorce. Accordingly, the present study employed a phenomenological approach to represent the reality of divorce through the voices and lived experiences of adolescent girls. The objective was to explore the lived experiences of adolescent girls from divorced families in Yazd.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological approach. The study population included adolescent girls with parental divorce experience in Yazd, selected through purposive sampling. Data saturation was achieved with 16 participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. To ensure the trustworthiness of the study, four criteria—credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability—were applied. Credibility was ensured through member checking. Confirmability was achieved using “bracketing” to reduce researcher bias. Dependability was established by reviewing interview transcripts with five family counseling experts. Transferability was facilitated through a detailed description of the research process. Additionally, the researcher’s extensive experience as a school counselor working with children of divorced parents contributed to the reliability of the findings.
Results: Data analysis yielded 19 concepts, three main themes, and eight subthemes. Findings indicated that adolescent girls from divorced families face multiple challenges in three primary domains: intrapersonal (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral), interpersonal (relationships with parents, relatives, and peers), and economic (financial difficulties, employment). Cognitive challenges included identity confusion, low self-confidence and self-esteem, and rumination. Emotional challenges comprised feelings of shame, guilt, resentment, loneliness, and emotional emptiness. Behavioral challenges involved engaging in relationships with the opposite sex and assuming parental roles. Challenges related to parents included confusion due to parental conflicts, lack of attention to the children’s future, and decreased parental supervision. Relatives-related challenges involved interference from close relatives and loss of some social bonds. Peer-related challenges included difficulties in forming stable friendships. Economic challenges encompassed lack of financial support, work pressures on adolescents, and out-of-home employment. These findings, consistent with previous studies, provide a deeper understanding of the multidimensional consequences of divorce for adolescent girls. The study extensively explored the experiences and challenges of girls with divorced parents. It is recommended that future research focus specifically on each of these challenges and develop tailored supportive intervention packages.
Conclusion: Adolescent girls who experience parental divorce face multiple challenges across three main domains: intrapersonal (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral), interpersonal (relationships with family, relatives, and friends), and economic (financial difficulties, employment).
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological approach. The study population included adolescent girls with parental divorce experience in Yazd, selected through purposive sampling. Data saturation was achieved with 16 participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. To ensure the trustworthiness of the study, four criteria—credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability—were applied. Credibility was ensured through member checking. Confirmability was achieved using “bracketing” to reduce researcher bias. Dependability was established by reviewing interview transcripts with five family counseling experts. Transferability was facilitated through a detailed description of the research process. Additionally, the researcher’s extensive experience as a school counselor working with children of divorced parents contributed to the reliability of the findings.
Results: Data analysis yielded 19 concepts, three main themes, and eight subthemes. Findings indicated that adolescent girls from divorced families face multiple challenges in three primary domains: intrapersonal (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral), interpersonal (relationships with parents, relatives, and peers), and economic (financial difficulties, employment). Cognitive challenges included identity confusion, low self-confidence and self-esteem, and rumination. Emotional challenges comprised feelings of shame, guilt, resentment, loneliness, and emotional emptiness. Behavioral challenges involved engaging in relationships with the opposite sex and assuming parental roles. Challenges related to parents included confusion due to parental conflicts, lack of attention to the children’s future, and decreased parental supervision. Relatives-related challenges involved interference from close relatives and loss of some social bonds. Peer-related challenges included difficulties in forming stable friendships. Economic challenges encompassed lack of financial support, work pressures on adolescents, and out-of-home employment. These findings, consistent with previous studies, provide a deeper understanding of the multidimensional consequences of divorce for adolescent girls. The study extensively explored the experiences and challenges of girls with divorced parents. It is recommended that future research focus specifically on each of these challenges and develop tailored supportive intervention packages.
Conclusion: Adolescent girls who experience parental divorce face multiple challenges across three main domains: intrapersonal (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral), interpersonal (relationships with family, relatives, and friends), and economic (financial difficulties, employment).
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Counseling
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