Article Abstract 2

Secondary school dropout remains a critical global educational challenge with significant long-term consequences for individuals and societies. Among the multiple determinants of dropout, parental divorce has emerged as an important family-level factor influencing adolescents’ educational outcomes through psychological, behavioural, and socioeconomic pathways. The present study aimed to systematically review and synthesise empirical evidence on the relationship between parental divorce and secondary school dropout. A systematic review design was adopted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025 were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ERIC, PubMed, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Studies focusing on adolescents and secondary school populations examining parental divorce or separation in relation to school dropout, disengagement, or educational attainment were included. A qualitative thematic synthesis approach was used to analyse and integrate findings, which indicate that parental divorce is indirectly associated with secondary school dropout through multiple interconnected pathways. Four major themes emerged: psychological distress, behavioural difficulties, socioeconomic disadvantage, and reduced educational engagement. Adolescents from divorced families were consistently found to experience higher emotional stress, weaker school attachment, reduced academic motivation, and increased behavioural problems, all of which contribute to elevated dropout risk. Socioeconomic hardship following divorce further intensified educational vulnerability by limiting access to learning resources and support systems. The review concludes that parental divorce contributes to secondary school dropout through cumulative and interacting psychosocial and structural mechanisms rather than a direct causal pathway. The findings highlight the need for integrated educational, psychological, and socioeconomic interventions to support adolescents from divorced families and promote school retention and educational equity.
Keywords: Parental divorce; secondary school dropout; school disengagement; adolescent education; systematic review