I think both apporaches can lead to some very interesting insights. IPA is appropriate for a study such as yours as it offers a framework that accepts that research can never be objectively observed from the outside, but must be observed from the inside, through peoples actual lived experiences

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IPA or general thematic analysis sound appropriate for your analysis, but IPA may or may not be appropriate for other elements of your methodological design. To figure out which phenomenological/experiential frame best fits your approach, I recommend reviewing (in this order) (1) "Human Science Research Methods" Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1987, vol 27(4), 424-457; (2) "An Application of Experiential Method in Psychology: What Is It Like to be a Stranger in a Foreign Land?" in 2006 Qualitative Research Methods for Psychologists; (3) 2014, vol 42, "Phenomenological Philosophy as the Basis for a Humanistic Scientific Psychology; (4) Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods 6th ed; and finally, (5) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method, and Research. I hope that this helps.

I agree with the previous two respondents in that both analyses may be relevant to analyse your data. Thematic analysis is good for beginners and has many different applications (seee.g. Braun and Clarke's publications accesible here on RG where they nuance the uses of thematic analysis). IPA is clearly a more theoretically informed methodology (phenomenology and hermeneutics) and allows for a much more detailed examination of lived experience, and how individuals make sense of their own world and the social world of which they're part. IPA is considered particularly suitable for exploring topics which are complex and/or emotional, like yours. What sets it aside from a thematic analysis across cases, is that it examines each particular case in detail before moving on to the other cases, and eventually a cross-case analysis. One crucial concern with regards to your study could be your sample size. Because IPA goes deep (interpretative, with respect for individual cases), fewer participants may be required. Good luck with you research, it sounds very interesting!

The following publications may further help in your understanding/decision, namely: thematic form/analysis is widely used in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (see: Larkin et al, 2006; Javadi and Zarea, 2016); Comparative summary of different approaches to analysis (Phenomenology vs. Thematic Analysis) (see: Guest et al, 2012, p. 17), etc.

• Attride-stirling, J. (2001) Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research, Qualitative Research, 1, 3, pp. 385-405.
• Brocki, J. M. and Wearden, A. J. (2006) A critical evaluation of the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) in health psychology, Psychology and Health, 21, 1, pp. 87-108.
• Gill, M. J. (2014) The possibilities of phenomenology for organizational research, Organizational Research Methods, 17, 2, pp. 118-137.
• Guest, G., MacQueen, K. M. and Namey, E. E. (2012) Applied Thematic Analysis. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Inc.
• Hefferon, K. and Gil-Rodriguez, E. (2011) Methods: Interpretative phenomenological analysis, The Psychologist, 24, 10, pp. 756-759.
• Javadi, M. and Zarea, K. (2016) Understanding Thematic Analysis and its Pitfall, Journal of Client Care, 1, 1, pp. 33-39.
• Larkin, M., Watts, S. and Clifton, E. (2006) Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis, Qualitative research in psychology, 3, 2, pp. 102-120.
• Pringle, J., Drummond, J., McLafferty, E. and Hendry, C. (2011) Interpretative phenomenological analysis: a discussion and critique, Nurse Researcher, 18, 3, pp. 20-24.
• Smith, J. A., Flowers, P. and Larkin, M. (2009) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Among the references that Kenneth Lui-ming Ngie lists, I would note that the version of thematic analysis followed by Guest et al. bares little resemblance to that of Braun & Clarke. In particular, what Guest et al. call "themes" are more like what most people would treat as manifest content codes.