GAMBARAN FEAR OF INTIMACY PADA DEWASA AWAL DARI ORANG TUA BERCERAI DENGAN LATAR BELAKANG KELUARGA DISFUNGSIONAL

This study aims to explore the description of fear of intimacy in young adults from divorced families with a dysfunctional family background. A qualitative method with a case study design was employed. The participant was a 24-year-old woman whose parents divorced when she was 7 years old. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, non-participatory observation, and audio recordings transcribed verbatim. Data validity was ensured through technique triangulation. The results revealed that fear of intimacy in the participant manifested through several psychological patterns: (1) difficulty in self-disclosure, (2) fear of negative evaluation and rejection, (3) the formation of rigid emotional boundaries, (4) vulnerability, and (5) low levels of trust toward romantic partners. Family dynamics, including post-divorce instability, emotional distance from parents, and the experience of parentification, contributed to the development of self-protective mechanisms that ultimately hindered the formation of deep emotional intimacy. Although the participant demonstrated good cognitive awareness of the importance of communication in relationships, emotional barriers rooted in early relational experiences remained a significant obstacle to building meaningful interpersonal connections. This study offers theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the relationship between dysfunctional family experiences and the emergence of fear of intimacy in early