The lived experiences of witnessing parental conflict : a retrospective narrative study

Abstract

"The Lived Experience of Witnessing Parental Conflict – A Retrospective Narrative Study” is a qualitative study which explores the lived experience of children exposed to interparental conflict. Using the Biographical Narrative Interpretive Method, four female participants aged between 30 and 40 years, gave a rich insight into what it was like to live in a turbulent family environment and how they were affected by it. In line with literature, findings from this study revealed that children living with interparental conflict experience pervasive emotions like fear, tension and anxiety, causing them a high level of instability. Also in line with literature, this study found that interparental conflict deprives children of parental warmth and are often neglected and parentified. Although the participants in this study are highly resilient, this study, in line with literature, still shows that the child still carries the consequences of a troubled family life into adulthood, mainly affecting their romantic relationships. The spill-over effect has proved to be the major critical implication for these effects on children, so it is being recommended that the issue is addressed locally through a parenting skills program.