Armenian Youth Navigating Parental Divorce

In Armenian culture, it is common to refrain from publicly discussing personal problems including mental health, life struggles, familial issues or any issues that could taint the outward image of perfection. As a result, Armenians are accustomed to not speaking about their problems; even look down upon others who decide to speak up. However, a new generation of Armenian-American born children see and acknowledge the importance of discussing issues related to mental health. The purpose of this research is to highlight the experiences and struggles of Armenian children who have experienced parental divorce in a conservative, collectivist culture that remind them that divorce is a taboo subject. Drawing on eight interviews with Armenian individuals, aged 18-31, who experienced the downfall of their parents' marriage, I examine the following research questions: (1) How do Armenians young adults deal with the divorce of their parents? (2) How are Armenian young adults effected by Armenian cultural norms about divorce? And (3) How do those cultural norms and experiences shape their views on marriage and relationships? The findings revealed the cultural expectations the Armenian youth have all grown up with, how influential environments can be in the socialization and identity processes, the lack of support from friends and family, the reserved qualities among the participants, their optimism regarding making romantic relationships work, and how they can promote more positive experiences for the younger generations. In hopes of highlighting a conversation that deserves recognition among the Armenian community, the ultimate goal is to have more people in this community normalize divorce and provide better support and resources to youth who experience parental divorce.