Father's experiences of relationship breakdown including post-separation abuse and parental alienating behaviours

Hine, Benjamin, Roy, Eilish, Huang, Ching-Yu and Bates, Elizabeth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8694-8078 (2025) Father's experiences of relationship breakdown including post-separation abuse and parental alienating behaviours. Social Sciences, 14 (1). p. 31.

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Abstract

Background: Family breakdown, separation, and divorce (FBSD) are often traumatic events, particularly for fathers who face unique challenges. These include emotional, psychological, and financial struggles, often exacerbated by abusive behaviours from ex-partners. This study explores fathers’ experiences of FBSD, focusing on both the breakdown event itself and any abuse, including coercive control and parental alienation, before and after the separation.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a survey of 141 men and follow-up interviews with 30 participants. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes related to FBSD and associated abuse.

Results: Fathers reported significant emotional, psychological, and financial distress, with many experiencing ongoing abuse and coercive control after separation. Abuse often continued through legal processes and manipulation of child access. Parental alienation emerged as a prominent form of post-separation abuse, with fathers describing attempts by ex-partners to undermine their relationships with their children.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for gender-inclusive services that address the specific challenges fathers face during and after FBSD, particularly in relation to post-separation abuse. Targeted interventions are necessary to support fathers’ well-being and ensure their continued involvement in their children’s lives.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Social Sciences
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2076-0760
Departments:	Institute of Health > Psychology and Psychological Therapies
Additional Information:	Elizabeth Bates, Institute of Health, University of Cumbria, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Depositing User:	Elizabeth Bates
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2025 09:28
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2025 15:00
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/8564

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