Divorce prevention programme an intervention based on qualitatively derived psychological themes from newlywed distressed and divorced couples

Abstract

This study has aimed to develop a competent intervention program as a preventive measure to tackle the increasing divorce rate in the current Indian scenario. Towards this end, the study has been arranged in three phases, with specific objectives guided by specific research questions in each phase. Holding pragmatic philosophical stance, a mixed method framework has directed the entire study, precisely, exploratory mixed design. newlineThe first phase of the study has focused on investigating the in-depth psychological components or etiology of marital distress and divorce in the problem context. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design, the lived marital experiences of 14 separated and 36 divorced (n=50) newlywed participants has been rigorously explored. Five superordinate themes along with 23 subordinate and 35 emergent themes have been derived in the data analysis, as reasons for marital distress and divorce in newlywed couples. newlineThe challenge of the second phase was to spin a proficient intervention program that is competent to address the identified reasons for marital distress, during the phase-one of the study. Towards this target, the theoretical framework developed by Hughes (1994, 2012 and 2014), Framework for Developing Family Life Education Programme is the model utilized. Following the five steps in the Hughes s framework, the intervention program has been designed and titled Divorce Prevention Programme (DPP). Finally, the phase three task of the study includes experimentation over the immediate and short-term (two-month) effect of the DPP as to what extent marital satisfaction and consummate love would improve to prevent divorce. The pretest, posttest experimental, and waitlist control group design was utilized with a two months follow-up with the experimental group.