Page No 221-232
Aneesh T
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Sujata Sriram
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
This study explores the psychological, emotional, and social ramifications of divorce
on adolescents and families in Kerala, a region marked by progressive development
indicators yet experiencing rising marital disintegration. Employing a qualitative
exploratory design, supplemented by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ),
the research investigates the lived experiences of adolescents, custodial and noncustodial
parents, and key informants, including family court counsellors. The study
conducted in the Ernakulam district reveals how divorce impacts adolescents’ emotional
well-being, academic engagement, and familial relationships. Findings highlight themes
of emotional suppression, social stigma, financial insecurity, institutional barriers, and
gendered vulnerability, especially among single mothers. The reflexivity of the researcher,
a clinical psychologist, offers a dual lens of therapeutic insight and scholarly inquiry,
emphasising the ethical and emotional complexities of fieldwork. The study concludes
that divorce is not merely a legal dissolution but a multi-layered psychosocial event
with long-term effects on children and families. It underscores the need for systemic
reforms, reorientation of premarital education, and early psychosocial intervention to
support affected populations. The research calls for culturally contextualised, empathetic
responses within institutional and community frameworks to mitigate the adverse
impacts of divorce.