Emerging Adults and Parental Divorce: Coming to Terms with “What Might Have Been”

Abstract

Although the impact of divorce on family members has been widely explored in the literature, with many prevailing myths debunked, there has been limited discussion of the impact of parental divorce on emerging adults (ages 18–30). A strength-based model developed by King and Hicks (2007) is presented to enhance our current understanding. Coming to terms with the experience of parental divorce and “what might have been” frames the discussion. Two emerging adult case examples are presented to illustrate how experiences of loss and the exploration of “what might have been” have direct benefits. It is proposed that family therapists can assist emerging adults in developing narratives related to the experience of divorce that promote happiness, maturity, and complexity, narratives that serve as a powerful alternative to existing deficit models.