Adjustment to Parental Separation: A Qualitative and Exploratory Study of the Perspectives of Young Adults with Separated Parents and Family Court Magistrates

Through a systemic perspective, this exploratory study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of children's adaptation process to parental separation. Based on the perspectives of young adults that experienced parental separation and of family court magistrates, the risk and protective factors of the adaptation process to parental separation were explored using qualitative methods. Semi structured interviews were conducted to these samples: 10 young adults which experienced parental separation and 10 family court magistrates. The content of the interviews were analysed through inductive and deductive thematic analysis. The results underline (1) the central role of the relationship with and between parents to this adjustment process; (2) the influence of the relationship between the family and other systemic levels; (3) the important role of family court magistrates in this processes and (4) the advantages of Family Mediation to respond to the needs of these families. Results, limitations of the study and practical implications are discussed.