Adults’ lived experiences of their parents’ divorce during adolescence in Mpumalanga Province

Abstract: Divorce is common in South Africa among all racial groups. However, there is limited information about adults’ lived experiences of their parents’ divorce during adolescence. The researcher realised that adolescents’ needs are seldom attended to during divorce; instead, attention is primarily focused on the divorcing parents. The purpose of the study was to understand adults’ lived experiences of their parents’ divorce during adolescence in Sabie, Mpumalanga Province. This understanding led to the establishment of specific recommendations for the facilitation of adolescents’ mental health after their parents’ divorce. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used. During data collection, in-depth, phenomenological individual interviews and field notes were used. The central question asked was: “How was the divorce of your parents for you?” Nine participants from divorced families, whose parents divorced while they were adolescents, were interviewed in Sabie, Mpumalanga Province. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method, and an independent coder was involved in the process. All appropriate measures were adhered to in ensuring that trustworthiness and ethical principles were applied throughout the study. The study’s findings revealed that participants experienced negative consequences of their parents’ divorce, such as educational challenges, delinquent behaviour, poverty, difficulty in forming future relationships, unstable home environments, and taking a parental role at an early age. They also experienced negative emotional responses from the divorce of their parents, such as sadness and jealousy. They were caught in a situation where they felt they were intermediaries between their parents, and witnessed domestic violence. These experiences were traumatic, and participants did not wish divorce to affect other adolescents; they wanted to protect other adolescents from experiencing the divorce of their parents. Specific recommendations were described to facilitate the mental health of adolescents after the divorce of their parents. The specific recommendations included the facilitation of physical, social and emotional support after adolescents’ parents’ divorce. Through this recommendation, the researcher believed that the adolescents’ wellbeing and coping skills would be enhanced. Nurses play a significant role in the health system and are involved in human survival; thus, recommendations for nursing practice were included to promote the mental health of adolescents experiencing the divorce of their parents. Key words: Experiences, adolescents, parents and divorced.M.Cur. (Psychiatric Mental Health