Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-369-59693-9
Psy.D.
Irvine, CSPP
Alliant International University
2017
The population of Iranians living in the United States is estimated at approximately 691,000 (Boustani, 2015). However, the research on Iranian-Americans is limited, and currently there have been no studies on the influence of divorce on this population. This research attempts to bridge the gap in literature and present pertinent information for those treating this population so they can provide culturally competent treatment to their Iranian American clients who are experiencing parental divorce. Through semi-structured qualitative interviews with 12 participants, this study illustrates the viability of using dialogue and reflection to attain the quintessential meaning of the experiences of Iranian American adult children who have experienced parental divorce in childhood. The data strongly supported existing literature that parental divorce alone may not cause damage, but rather growing up with poor parent-child relationships and lengthy inter-parental conflicts may be what is most destructive (Stephens, 2012). This study also found that although Iranians strongly value their culture, attitudes towards divorce as well as outdated taboos are changing for the first and second generation of Iranian Americans. Analysis revealed values and processes prior and post divorce, influences of divorce on the adult children's romantic relationships, and the strengths, resiliency, and achievements of Iranian American children of divorce. Clinical implications and future research direction were also discussed.
Social psychology
Psychology;Acculturation;Adult children of divorce;Divorce;Iran;Iranian American;Phenomenology