A Qualitative Study on Negative Experiences of Divorced Families and the Social Perception of Divorce

The process of divorce has numerous individual and societal consequences for parents and, if they have, their children. This process and its aftermath present emotional, cognitive, and social challenges for parents and children who struggle with adjustment and uncertainty. Although divorce has become more common in contemporary society and appears to be more socially accepted, divorced individuals still face social pressure, prejudice, and stigmatization, with the consequences of divorce for men and women being shaped by prevailing gender roles. The aim of this study is to understand the adverse experiences of divorced parents and their children, as well as the influence of societal perceptions on this process. In this context, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 divorced mothers and 13 divorced fathers, all of whom have children. Participants were asked questions regarding their individual challenges during and after the divorce, the attitudes of those around them, the ways in which they were perceived in social life, and their children’s circumstances throughout this process. The data obtained were analyzed using the thematic analysis method with the support of MaxQDA software. The analysis revealed themes indicating that gender roles shape societal attitudes towards divorced men and women, that both genders are subjected to various prejudices and stigmatization, that the social support can mitigate the negative consequences of divorce, that the impact of divorce on children is determined by parental attitudes and the ways in which motherhood and fatherhood roles are fulfilled, and that divorce can sometimes be inevitable and necessary.