Community support for persons who experienced legal marital separation and divorce

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of communities towards legally separated and/or divorced individuals (LS/DI). The issues of family and friends, support groups, religious organisations, gender, age and stigma are also discussed. This study also seeks to unveil whether LS/DI felt the need for community support throughout and after their separation process and whether communities support LS/DI. This study is guided by a qualitative method of inquiry, comprising eight semi-structured interviews with LS/DI of all genders who have been legally separated for over 3 years, and who were recruited through snowballing. The inquiry is based on LS/DI’s perceptions of community support. Data collected was analysed using thematic analysis as guided by Braun and Clarke (Clarke & Braun, 2006; Braun & Clarke, 2012; Clarke & Braun, 2013; Clarke & Braun, 2017; Braun & Clarke, 2021). Interpretivism is engaged as a theoretical framework as it aims to understand particular situations through the experiences of the individuals themselves as they interact with one another and with the broader social systems. Results emerging from data collected disclose that most LS/DI looked for community support and found value in them, and that such support is existent in the local scenario. The support given by family, friends and communities made a huge difference in LS/DI’s life through the turmoil of the separation proceedings, although there were not many notable differences related to gender and age. The findings also indicate that all participants sought members from religious communities for support, while at the same time, some claimed to have been shunned by members of the same communities. A degree of stigma was also mentioned by some participants. The author recommends ways how future research could broaden this study by including a larger sample of participants, by researching LS/DI in a longitudinal study, and by looking at LS/DI coming from same sex marriages. It is also being recommended that a policy regarding community support for LS/DI is designed, with the input of the relevant NGOs and stakeholders. Recommendations for practice include the setting up of multicultural support groups. The significance of this study emerges from the fact that local and international literature on the perceptions of LS/DI on community support is scarce. This study presented LS/DI with the opportunity to recount their experiences of community support and provided a rich understanding of the struggles LS/DI face when going through a marital separation.