This master’s thesis, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), explores how adults who experienced parental divorce during childhood perceive the sense of home and safety, and how these perceptions have evolved over time. The study involved five participants who, through in-depth interviews, shared their subjective experiences, memories, and reflections related to the period of divorce, relationships with their biological parents and their parents’ new partners, the experience of support from their social environment, and the formation of their own sense of home in adulthood.
Participants reported the loss of both the physical and symbolic sense of home, which prior to the divorce had been experienced as a space of belonging, stability, and acceptance. Divorce often led to the breakdown of established structures, resulting in feelings of displacement and emotional insecurity. Feelings of safety were most often linked to one parent, typically the mother, while relationships with the father frequently weakened after the divorce. In some cases, the bond with the mother deepened but also became overburdened, indicating the presence of emotional parentification.
The level of parental conflict proved to be a key factor in shaping the sense of safety and the quality of relationships. High conflict was associated with increased emotional distress, whereas cases of respectful and amicable separation allowed for the preservation or even improvement of relationships with both parents.
Reactions to parents’ new partners varied—some participants reported feelings of acceptance and safety, while most described emotional distance or negative experiences. The quality of these relationships was closely tied to the behavior of the biological parent and the overall family dynamic.
The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the long-term impact of divorce on the development of a sense of home and safety, and highlight the importance of emotionally responsive parenting, respectful communication between former partners, and access to appropriate support. Further research could deepen the understanding of protective factors and processes of recovery following the loss of a sense of home in childhood.
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