Left behind parents: A qualitative study on the experience of parental abduction of a child in Portugal.
JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 2021;
47:595-613. [PMID:
33550596 DOI:
10.1111/jmft.12478]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Parental abduction of a child occurs when the child is removed, by one parent, from the custody of the other parent or legally appointed guardians. The absence of the child has a profound impact on family members and significantly affects their lives. Also, parental abduction of a child is a relevant social problem which calls for further understanding. The aim of this research was to characterize the experiences of left behind parents in the context of parental abduction of a child. The data for this exploratory qualitative study were analyzed through thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews carried out with eight male participants in Portugal. Participants' perceptions were organized around three main themes: the impact of this adverse event on different areas of their lives, recovery strategies, and perspectives regarding the future. Findings and their implications for professionals working with these families are discussed in light of the ambiguous loss and ambiguous boundaries frameworks.
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