A Qualitative Study of the Process of Reconstructing Emotional Bonding in Couples With a History of Unsuccessful Mutual Divorce
Keywords:
Emotional bond reconstruction, unsuccessful mutual divorce, couples, thematic analysis, semi-structured interview, TehranAbstract
This study aimed to explain the process of reconstructing emotional bonding among couples who had experienced an unsuccessful mutual divorce process and subsequently attempted to restore their marital relationship. This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. The participants were 24 individuals, including 12 couples living in Tehran, who had previously applied for mutual divorce but whose divorce process had not resulted in formal marital dissolution. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on their direct lived experience, and recruitment continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews lasting between 45 and 85 minutes. All interviews were conducted after obtaining informed consent, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software. The data analysis followed the main phases of thematic analysis, including familiarization with the data, initial coding, theme development, theme review, theme definition, and final reporting. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, peer review, reflexive memo-writing, and an audit trail were used. The analysis led to the identification of five main themes: “transforming the certainty of separation into relational doubt,” “recognizing one’s own contribution to relational erosion,” “reopening emotional dialogue,” “redefining boundaries and marital agreements,” and “stabilizing the bond through caring actions.” The findings indicated that emotional bond reconstruction was not a sudden outcome of external pressures, but rather a gradual process shaped by pausing the divorce decision, reducing mutual blame, acknowledging accumulated injuries, restoring honest emotional communication, and developing reliable everyday behaviors. The results suggest that couples with a history of unsuccessful mutual divorce can reconstruct emotional bonding when the decision to remain married moves beyond external compulsion toward conscious choice, mutual responsibility, and renewed emotional security. Accordingly, couple therapy interventions for this group should focus on repairing attachment injuries, facilitating emotional dialogue, rebuilding trust, and developing clear relational agreements.
Downloads
References
Amato, P. R. (2000). The consequences of divorce for adults and children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(4), 1269–1287. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.01269.x
Amato, P. R. (2010). Research on divorce: Continuing trends and new developments. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 650–666. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00723.x
Beasley, C. C., & Ager, R. (2019). Emotionally focused couples therapy: A systematic review of its effectiveness over the past 19 years. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 16(2), 144–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/23761407.2018.1563013
Behtoei, S., Golshani, F., Baghdasarians, A., & Emamipour, S. (2025). Identifying the causes of compromise and withdrawal of divorce in couples applying for consensual divorce: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychological Science, 24(149), 197–219. https://doi.org/10.61186/jps.24.149.197
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Carrere, S., Buehlman, K. T., Gottman, J. M., Coan, J. A., & Ruckstuhl, L. (2000). Predicting marital stability and divorce in newlywed couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 14(1), 42–58. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.14.1.42
Christensen, A., Doss, B. D., & Jacobson, N. S. (2017). Integrative behavioral couple therapy: A therapist’s guide to creating acceptance and change (2nd ed.). W. W. Norton.
Gottman, J. M., & Levenson, R. W. (1992). Marital processes predictive of later dissolution: Behavior, physiology, and health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(2), 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.63.2.221
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Johnson, S. M., & Greenberg, L. S. (1985). Emotionally focused couples therapy: An outcome study. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 11(3), 313–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1985.tb00624.x
Johnson, S. M., Hunsley, J., Greenberg, L. S., & Schindler, D. (1999). Emotionally focused couples therapy: Status and challenges. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(1), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.6.1.67
Lebow, J. L., & Snyder, D. K. (2022). Couple therapy in the 2020s: Current status and emerging developments. Family Process, 61(4), 1359–1385. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12824
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.
Makinen, J. A., & Johnson, S. M. (2006). Resolving attachment injuries in couples using emotionally focused therapy: Steps toward forgiveness and reconciliation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(6), 1055–1064. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.6.1055
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Pirak, A., Negarandeh, R., & Khakbazan, Z. (2019). Post-divorce regret among Iranian women: A qualitative study. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 7(1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.30476/IJCBNM.2019.40848
Sbarra, D. A. (2015). Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 77(3), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168
Stanley, S. M., Rhoades, G. K., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Sliding versus deciding: Inertia and the premarital cohabitation effect. Family Relations, 55(4), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00418.x
Tong, A., Sainsbury, P., & Craig, J. (2007). Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research: A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 19(6), 349–357. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzm042
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
