TY - CHAP AB - Purpose This study examined how parental divorce during emerging adulthood gives meaning to emerging adults’ developmental stage and interpersonal relationships.Methodology/approach The participant sample consisted of 15 females from the Southeastern United States who were between the ages of 18 and 25 (M = 21.5). Qualitative methods were utilized, with a transcendental phenomenological research methodology specifically applied. Interviews were conducted focusing on perceptions of the divorce experience in relation to important aspects of emerging adulthood, namely developmental experiences and interpersonal relationships, primarily intimate partner and dating experiences. NVivo was used to allow a “bottom-up” design, emergent design, and interpretive inquiry for data analysis.Findings Two major themes emerged from the data: (1) developmental stage facilitates insight into the divorce process and (2) parental divorce leads to contemplating and reconceptualizing perceptions of self and interpersonal relationships.Research limitations/implications Results are relevant to researchers, parents, and practitioners as divorce is examined with a developmental lens. Findings suggest that the meaning and impact of parental divorce are distinct for emerging adult children, characterized by awareness and personal reflection. Implications for parenting and practice are provided. VL - 10 SN - 978-1-78635-229-3, 978-1-78635-230-9/1530-3535 DO - 10.1108/S1530-353520160000010010 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/S1530-353520160000010010 AU - Reed Kayla AU - Parker Trent S. AU - Lucier-Greer Mallory AU - Rehm Marsha L. PY - 2016 Y1 - 2016/01/01 TI - Exploring How Parental Divorce Provides Meaning to Personal Development and Interpersonal Experiences among Emerging Adult Women T2 - Divorce, Separation, and Remarriage: The Transformation of Family T3 - Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 251 EP - 277 Y2 - 2024/04/19 ER -