Butkutė-Van De Voort, Lina

This study aims to examine how the disputing spouses (husband and wife) perceive and represent themselves and each other in their narratives of protracted conflictual divorce. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative longitudinal research strategy in the form of a case study. The participants were a legally married couple (husband and wife) who had been undergoing the divorce process for two years at the time of the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using narrative positioning analysis. Findings At the beginning of his narrative, the husband positions himself as a people-pleaser in his relationship with his wife, but by the end, he sees himself as a fighter, defending himself against an aggressor (his wife). Meanwhile, the wife initially perceives herself as an independent woman, and by the end of her story, she views herself as even stronger and financially stable, capable of providing for both her and her children. At the beginning of the story, the husband positions his wife as the woman who has fulfilled all his dreams; at the end of the story, he positions her as the aggressor who tries to take away his property and children. The wife positions her husband as someone who wants to be above her and harm her in every possible way. The findings reveal that although both spouses try to understand their own contributions to the situation, they continue to perceive each other through a lens distorted by defense mechanisms. Research limitations/implications The results of this study are not generalizable due to methodological limitations and a small sample size. However, it provides a deeper insight into how both spouses perceive themselves and each other during a prolonged, high-conflict divorce before the legal dissolution of marriage. Practical implications It is crucial for professionals working with families to recognize how dynamics such as splitting and projection emerge during a high-conflict divorce, as these mechanisms can hinder any possibility of conflict resolution. It is essential for specialists not only to support everyone’s innate resilience and sense of self but also to ensure that personal beliefs, values and attitudes do not become so dominant that they hardly give space to other people’s perspectives. Social implications Given that divorcees are important sources of information for changes in policy and practice, knowing about their experiences can help improve the resources and assistance available to them and their children. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies that is focused on what is representation of self and other of both parties in the context of protracted conflictual divorce.

Researchers have traditionally viewed conflictual divorce as a form of marital separation characterized by intense conflicts between the divorcing partners, but only recently has there been more focus on its temporal dimension. However, it remains unclear how the duration of this conflict-ridden process itself acts as a stressor, and how divorcees cope with it. This study involved a sample of 21 individuals living in Lithuania still legally married but undergoing divorce for periods ranging from 6 months to up to 5 years. We utilized a grounded theory design to explore how individuals encounter the duration of their divorce and how it plays a role in their interaction with external world. Data was collected through two waves of interviews. The findings suggest that the duration is largely linked to heightened experiences of uncertainty and unpredictability, transitioning from acute to entrenched over time. Individuals employ various strategies to increase clarity and reduce stress, although they may not always achieve the desired outcomes. The article concludes with recommendations for both professionals and divorcees themselves.

While research has focused on self-concept before or after marriage dissolution, very little research has investigated how individuals understand and evaluate themselves during the longer-lasting and usually highly conflictual divorce process. Qualitative interview data with Lithuanians 6 months or more into their divorce processes suggest that divorcees experience marital dissolution as an interchange of three main processes: losing valued self-parts, a (re)birth of a more valued self, and hanging-self as being stuck in ongoing uncertainty with a need to protect valued parts of oneself. The theoretical and practical implications of these research findings are discussed.

Introduction: Previous research findings painted a mixed picture regarding conflictual divorce. A lack of empirical clarity hinders professionals from intervening with this population effectively. Methods: Based on two-wave interview data with 21 divorcing individuals from Lithuania, we explored an array of conflicts that could be related to enduring divorce lasting from 6 months up to 4 years. Results: The results show conflictual divorce as a multifaceted, evolving phenomenon intertwined between many disputes on five interconnected levels. The most prominent ones are with a former spouse and related to self-concept changes. Over time, these conflicts partially transform into disagreements with involved institutions and the country’s legal system. In the end, divorcees become involved in enduring uncertainty and embracing inner resources to continue their journey. Conclusion: Positioning enduring divorce within multiple conflict levels identifies several points associated professionals can use in their work with divorcees and the fundamental need for collaboration among stakeholders for effective interventions.

Although most empirical research has focused on divorcing individuals’ experiences before or after marriage dissolution, how people understand and evaluate themselves during their lasting divorce processes has been largely understudied. We aimed to close this gap by learning how individuals regard their longer-lasting divorce process and how those experiences could relate to changes of self. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and then analyzed by applying a grounded theory approach. Twenty-one research participants residing in Lithuania who were 6 months or more into their divorce processes (not living together or in a litigation process) participated in the study. By allowing participants to reflect on their ongoing divorce, data indicated three main categories illuminating the changes in self: temporal self-disruption, restricted self-transition, and transition-supporting strategies. These interconnected categories point toward complex paths of the divorcees from experienced losses toward a more stable and clear yet not finalized self-redefinition. Individuals’ increased vulnerability, especially during the first years of the divorce, requires particular attention from child protection officers, lawyers, mediators, and other involved professionals. Unfortunately, support is often unavailable or refuted due to the perceived low effectiveness and lack of professionalism.