Abstract

Attitudes and ideas about the crucial role of noncustodial fathers in the transition to effective and supportive co-parenting after divorce have significantly changed over the last few decades. The purpose of this research is to identify and analyse the experiences of noncustodial fathers in the pathway of post-divorce co-parenting, using a qualitative phenomenological approach. In this study, twelve noncustodial fathers were selected using purposive sampling. The data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analysed based on Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Qualitative descriptive phenomenological analysis of the data revealed six major themes – “emotional turmoil, economic challenges and financial conflicts, restricted access and gatekeeping, undermining, disengagement and alienation, and mental health challenges” – that are used to identify innovative ways for researchers and family practitioners to support co-parenting after divorce and assist them in achieving supportive co-parenting.

Keywords: Divorce, Co-Parenting Challenges, Non-Custodial Fathers, Qualitative Study.

Over the past four decades, family structures have changed significantly and directly worldwide; these changes are partly due to the increase in divorce as a serious problem (Rajabpour Azizi et al., 2025). Family transitions, such as divorce, are known to be unstable periods for family relationships and parenting behaviours (Patern et al., 2021); the period after divorce is often complex and difficult for both custodial and non-custodial parents and children, due to the often tense context following separation (Samel, Binu, & Butvoir, 2025). This period is fraught with challenges in deciding and negotiating custody and visitation, sharing information about children, uncertainty and disagreement about expectations, future mutual contact, and contact with children, which can lead to conflict, disengagement, and re-establishment of parental relationships (Patern et al., 2021). These conditions affect the dynamics of parental relationships and can threaten the reconstruction of co-parenting relationships, as parents may have different interests (Rejaen, van der Valk, & Branier, 2022). Co-parenting is a shared activity carried out by two or more adults who jointly assume social responsibility, care, and upbringing of the children for whom they are responsible (McHale & Sirotkin, 2019). Separated parents should continue to co-parent based on the values of cooperation, support, sharing, and understanding, and on the principles of the best interests of the child and gender equality (Pereira & Pinto, 2015). However, working closely with the other parent on such a complex and important task as this, and in the long term, can be difficult and challenging, especially for non-custodial fathers (Di Carvalho et al., 2022).

The present study used a phenomenological approach to understand the challenges of co-parenting after divorce from the perspective of non-custodial fathers. The study population included divorced fathers living in Shiraz who did not have legal custody of their child after the divorce. Inclusion criteria included having at least one biological child under the age of 18, both biological parents being alive and having a role in the child’s life, at least 6 months having passed since the divorce, and a voluntary willingness to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria included not meeting the inclusion criteria and not wanting to participate in the study. Participants in this study were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews with fathers who met the inclusion criteria continued until data saturation, that is, when no new concepts were obtained from the interviews and the information became repetitive. Finally, the study was completed with 12 participants. Data analysis was conducted using the seven-step method of Colaizzi (1978).

However, the findings clearly revealed six main themes of emotional turmoil with themes of sadness, feelings of helplessness, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy and incompetence, feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, anger, guilt, feelings of powerlessness, feelings of role loss; economic challenges and financial conflicts with subthemes of unemployment, insufficient income, disputes over alimony, disputes over financial support, unreasonable financial expectations of the mother; limiting access and gatekeeping with subthemes of preventing visitation, canceling planned visitation without reason, making it harder to pick up or drop off the child, cutting off visitation due to delays in alimony/financial support, concealing and limiting child information, controlling father-child communication, limiting communication using the kinship network, depriving visitation due to anger and hatred; Weakening with subthemes of making negative comments about the father in the presence of the child, ignoring the father's parenting style, replacing the father with another adult, opposing the father's decision-makers, and making ridiculing and sarcastic remarks about the father; disconnection and alienation with subthemes of belittling and badmouthing the father, exaggerating the father's minor shortcomings, instilling false beliefs and unfounded accusations, and creating guilt in the child about the relationship and contact with the father; and the main theme of mental health challenges with subthemes of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and alcohol use. The findings are largely consistent with previous research. These themes that emerged from the interviews were consistent with the themes identified by Kruk (2010) and Kruk (2015).

Despite the fact that divorce is legally considered the end of a marriage, with the presence of a child, parents will continue to share a common chapter in the form of co-parenting. Divorce is a psychologically challenging experience that disrupts individuals’ lives and forces them to reorganize parental roles and responsibilities. However, most research has focused on women, and the experience of non-custodial fathers has received less attention. Focusing on this gap, this study revealed that non-custodial fathers on the path to co-parenting after divorce face personal turmoil and challenges, communication challenges with the former spouse, and child-related issues. The findings of this research can provide new insights for theorizing in the field of post-divorce families and assist family counseling and psychology professionals in designing supportive interventions focused on the well-being of divorced parents and their children.