Designing a Divorce Prevention Model Based on Screening Chronic Conflict, Attachment Insecurity, Emotional Burnout, and Decreased Commitment
Keywords:
divorce prevention, chronic conflict, attachment insecurity, emotional burnout, marital commitment, thematic analysisAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to design a divorce prevention model based on screening chronic conflict, attachment insecurity, emotional burnout, and decreased marital commitment among couples at risk of marital dissolution.
Methods and Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. The participants consisted of 24 married individuals living in Tehran, selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Inclusion criteria were experiencing persistent marital conflict, perceived decline in intimacy or commitment, willingness to participate in interviews, and at least two years of marital life. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through initial coding, code organization, subtheme development, and main theme construction using NVivo software. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer review, analytic memo writing, and maintaining an audit trail.
Findings: Data analysis led to the identification of five main categories: the cycle of chronic conflict and failed relational repair, attachment insecurity and sensitivity to rejection, emotional burnout and silent withdrawal, erosion of commitment and psychological preparation for separation, and a multilevel screening model for divorce prevention. The findings indicated that divorce risk rarely emerges suddenly; rather, it develops through the gradual accumulation of unresolved conflicts, weakened emotional safety, declining hope for change, and the replacement of relational bonding with psychological self-protection.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that divorce prevention should begin before couples reach the stage of final separation decision-making. Instead of focusing only on communication skills, prevention programs should simultaneously screen four risk markers: chronic conflict, attachment insecurity, emotional burnout, and decreased commitment. The proposed model may be useful for family counseling centers, couple therapists, and early marital crisis prevention programs.
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