Exploring the Lived Experiences of Couples in Unsuccessful Marriages: A Phenomenological Study

Objective: The present study explores the lived experiences of couples in unsuccessful marriages using a qualitative approach and a phenomenological method. Methods and Materials: The research participants consisted of all couples who visited counseling centers in Isfahan in 2022 due to marital conflicts and divorce. From this group, 12 individuals were purposefully selected as the sample. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, and the data analysis followed the Colaizzi method. To ensure the reliability of the findings, Lincoln and Guba's four criteria—using established reliability criteria—were employed. Findings: The data analysis resulted in 33 initial codes for premarriage factors and 28 initial codes for postmarriage factors. The pre-marriage themes included self-awareness (lack of self-awareness), differentiation (lack of differentiation), cognition, lack of insight, emotional and affective dimension, sense of worthiness, and physical attractiveness. The post-marriage themes comprised personality type, economic security, intimacy, physical attractiveness, clear boundaries, and mental and cognitive maturity. Conclusion: According to the findings, the results could inform pre-marriage counseling or interventions to support marital stability would add relevance for readers.