Document Type : Review Article

Authors

• Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh ¹
• Vahideh Fazilatpour ²
• Mohsen Nazari-far ³

¹ Assistant professor, Department of counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.corresponding author, Doctor of counseling

² Department of counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. The first author, Ph.D. candidate in counseling

³ Department of counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran /Assistant professor, Department of Psychology and counseling, Arak University, Arak, Iran.The third author, Doctor of counseling

Abstract

Abstract
Introduction: Parental disclosure is a phenomenon that occurs in families to a greater or lesser extent and it has different effects on children and family relationships. Some parents do not know what topics are appropriate for disclosure and what the consequences may be. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the phenomenology of Iranian mothers' disclosure, the topics and experienced consequences of disclosure.
Methods: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 22 first-marriage mothers who had disclosure experience and at least one 10-30-year-old child were conducted.
Results: Analysis of data by Collaizi method led to the discovery of two main themes i.e., disclosure topics and consequences and 12 subcategories. The important disclosed topics included personal problems, disputes with spouse, and financial issues and some of the positive and negative mentioned consequences included raising children's awareness, and improving or weakening the quality of parent-child relationships. The participants disclosed more times and about more diverse subjects to their children than their husbands and the negative effects of their disclosure have been greater on young children.
Conclusion: Mothers' awareness of their disclosure to children and attention to its consequences help improve their performance. The findings can be considered by family professionals to help parents establish healthy communication boundaries with their children

Keywords

• Keywords: phenomenology
• parental disclosure
• parent-child relationship
• consequences

Main Subjects

• Assign subjects to Reviewers