A Qualitative Study of Rebuilding Emotional Bonds Among Couples With a History of Unsuccessful Consensual Divorce
Keywords:
emotional bond rebuilding, unsuccessful consensual divorce, couples, thematic analysis, semi-structured interview, TehranAbstract
This study aimed to explain the lived experience of couples with a history of unsuccessful consensual divorce in rebuilding emotional bonds and identifying the core components of relational repair after a separation crisis. This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. Participants included 18 couples, equal to 36 individuals, from Tehran who had previously initiated consensual divorce proceedings but withdrew before finalization and continued their marital life for at least six months. Purposeful sampling was used to achieve variation in age, length of marriage, parental status, and educational level, and recruitment continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were collected through individual and couple-based semi-structured interviews. The average interview duration was 65 minutes. After obtaining informed consent, interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using NVivo software. Data analysis followed the phases of thematic analysis, including familiarization with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the final report. Data analysis led to four main categories: “redefining the meaning of unsuccessful divorce,” “opening emotional dialogue,” “rebuilding trust and relational boundaries,” and “stabilizing emotional bonds in everyday life.” Participants described unsuccessful consensual divorce not merely as a failed separation but as a turning point for reflection, emotional confrontation, and recognition of personal contributions to relational breakdown. Rebuilding emotional bonds began when couples moved away from blame, verbalized past emotional injuries, modified everyday interaction patterns, and established clearer boundaries regarding families of origin, digital spaces, finances, and unresolved conflicts. The findings indicated that rebuilding emotional bonds after unsuccessful consensual divorce is a gradual and multilayered process dependent on responsibility-taking, emotional dialogue, trust repair, and sustained caring behaviors. This process is not achieved simply by deciding to stay together; rather, it requires transforming the couple’s relational narrative, regulating conflict, restoring attachment security, and creating observable signs of renewed commitment in daily life. The results may inform family counselors, couple therapists, and divorce-crisis intervention centers.
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