The Relationship Between Contact and Child Adjustment in High Conflict Cases after Divorce or Separation

Background: The study explored the relationship between contact and child adjustment where parents are in legal dispute over contact following divorce. Method: The sample consisted of 156, 129 and 108 parents at three different time points. Resident and contact parents reported on child and parent wellbeing, contact, decision-making and concerns about their former partner's parenting. Results: Children, particularly boys, had above average behaviour problems. Parent wellbeing and concerns about their ex-partner's parenting were associated with child adjustment. Contact and child adjustment were not related. Conclusions: Parenting education and therapeutic interventions are required to help parents focus on their children's needs. Key Practitioner Message: Poorer adjustment was reported in children, especially boys, where parents were involved in legal disputes over child contact following parental separation or divorce, compared to community norms There was no relationship between children's adjustment and the amount of contact children had with the non-resident parent The most positive adjustment was amongst children where the reporting parent was under less strain and had fewer concerns about the parenting capacity of the other parent Interventions should focus on helping parents to focus on the needs of children post-separation, enhancing parenting capacity and building a parental alliance