Post-divorce psychological and social sufferings among male divorcees and their intergenerational impact on Bangladeshi families: An empirical analysis

As a social phenomenon, divorce has a stronger psychological and social impact on families in Bangladesh. Existing literatures have focused on the suffering of women following divorce; however, comparatively little scholarly attention has been paid to the experiences and the challenges faced by men in Bangladesh after divorce. Therefore, this study aims to explore the social and psychological suffering of male divorcees in Bangladesh and its intergenerational impact on family members. Employing a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve male divorcees, complemented by five professional experts comprising a lawyer, a Khatib, a social worker, a local government representative, and an Islamic scholar. The findings indicate that male divorcees experience significant psychological distress, including sadness, loneliness, and identity crises, alongside social challenges such as stigma, economic vulnerability, and victimization through spurious legal cases. These difficulties often extend to their children, affecting their emotional well-being and academic performance. However, the study also reveals instances of personal development, emotional resilience, and beneficial life outcomes for some male divorcees. Overall, the study contributes to the limited literature on divorce in South Asia by highlighting male psychological vulnerability, social and legal marginalization, and intergenerational consequences, while offering context-specific insights for sociology, gender studies and mental health research, and family policy in Bangladesh.