Abstract
Framed by family systems theory and social constructionism, the present study is the first to illuminate the experiences of immediate family members of estranged parent–child dyads. A thematic analysis of 27 immediate family members (13 siblings, 6 children, 4 spouses, and 4 parents of estranged parent–child dyads) revealed (a) 4 ways they discussed taking sides, (b) 3 messages that contributed to them feeling caught, and (c) 6 practices they engaged in to manage feeling caught. Findings suggest that immediate family members do not report feeling particularly agentic in the process and actively attempt to extract themselves from the parent–child conflict. Both theoretical implications and practical applications are discussed.
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