A theoretical framework of divorcing couples experience

Divorce is an event affecting couples, children, families, and community. Little is known about the perception of Iranian couples who intended to get divorced with regard to the process of decision making on divorce. The purpose of this study was to build a theory about the process that leads the couples to get divorced. The grounded theory in qualitative paradigm was used. Ten couples were interviewed based on the theoretical saturation. Purposeful sampling and semi-structured in-depth method of interview were used. The interviews were analyzed by using the constant comparative method. The results indicated that a category named improper marriage formation included the causal condition of divorce, which consisted of lack of initial interest in spouse, improper reason for getting married, lack of marriage preparation, insufficient dating before marriage, forced marriage, and unawares spouse selection. Intervening condition was divided into three subcategories of intra personal factors (dysfunctional attitudes and characteristics); inter personal factors (dysfunctional marital, parental, and intergenerational systems), and Meta personal factors (financial issues). Contextual condition consisted of history of divorce and unhealthy family of origins. Couples and familial dysfunctional strategies were also explained. Consequences were identified as emotional, cognitive, and behavioral. We concluded that collapse of marriage occurs as a process not an onset event. Improper marriage formation, dysfunctional family of origin, lack of constructive boundaries, and dysfunctional strategies of family related to the eastern culture were explained in conclusion.