Adolescents' experiences of parental separation and divorce

This paper reports preliminary results of interviews with 71 divorced parents and 50 of their adolescent children. The interviews took place five to six years after divorce, and the sample was reasonably representative of divorced Edinburgh families having children aged 10-13 at divorce. Qualitative analysis shows a lack of explanations to children about the reasons for their parents' separation. The children's feelings are described, together with their experiences of custody and of access or lack of access. Finally, the children's reactions are given to their parents' new partners. Some of the children remain unconvinced of the need for their parents to separate, and some are still sad and hurt.