The Impact of Broken Homes on Adolescent Mental Health:  A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Family disruptions, including parental separation and prolonged conflict, are associated with emotional and psychological difficulties during adolescence. This study aims to synthesize literature on the impact of living in a "broken home" (a family unit affected by separation or divorce) on adolescent mental health, and to identify factors that may facilitate psychological adjustment. A systematic literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, Sinta, and Scopus, covering publications from 2021 to 2025. Studies were considered relevant if they focused on adolescents from broken homes and addressed topics such as mental health, emotional distress, anxiety, self-esteem, social or academic adjustment, or protective factors—including family and social support. Titles, abstracts, and full texts meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis. The final number of studies included in the synthesis is reported based on the selection process documented by the authors. The selected literature was then synthesized thematically. The findings indicate that living in a broken home can be associated with emotional distress, anxiety, lower self-esteem, and challenges in social and academic adjustment. These impacts are not uniform and may be influenced by the intensity of family conflict, the quality of communication and emotional support within the family, economic conditions, and access to supportive relationships or counseling services. This review concludes that adolescent mental health must be understood by considering both family-related risk factors and protective resources. Transparent reporting of the literature search and selection process is provided to ensure the replicability of this review.