When parents separate later on in life : the lived experience of emerging adults

Abstract

It is well known that parental separation may lead to negative consequences. However, very little research considers how this experience affects children when it occurs in their emerging adulthood (18-29 years old). What is more, research is particularly scarce for emerging adults in a European context. This qualitative study explores four emerging adult participants’ experience through the use of semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis yielded five main themes: Instability, Necessity, Impacted Family Relationships, Romantic Relationship Attitudes, and Coping. The results showed that experiencing home instability and having an understanding of the condition of their parents’ marriage produced a feeling of relief and approval of the decision, which supports the stress relief hypothesis by Wheaton (1990). Nonetheless, certain behaviours and timing of the separation were met with condemnation, and these negatively impacted the parent-child relationship. Nonetheless, this relationship sometimes improved as a result of appreciation or enriched conditions, and tended to involve concern if parents remained single. Furthermore, attitudes towards romantic relationships varied somewhat, but all participants exhibited vigilance. Lastly, the preferred modes of coping were that of escape from the situation, and seeking personal and professional support. In essence, while the participants were in favour of their parents’ decision to separate, their exposure to their parents’ interactions and being involved in them, specifically when living in the same household, appeared to exacerbate the situation.