The impact of divorce education programs on co-parental conflict: Review of programs with parent follow-up reports

Abstract

Divorce education programs are often required for divorcing or separating parents with minor children to aid in emotional and practical adjustment. However, there is very little consensus between programs or the evaluation process of programs to demonstrate effectiveness or long-term outcomes. While some short-term evaluations have shown significant results, the identification of programs that demonstrate long-term effects on co-parenting relationships is still missing. Identifying what programs exist with long-term outcomes can help pinpoint what content or structure of programming is impactful on families in divorce transitions. To address this research gap, a systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines to identify what specific and existing divorce education programs have a follow-up report of a minimum of 3 months and demonstrate a reduction of co-parental conflict. Sixteen programs were identified that have at least a minimum 3-month parent follow-up report; only four of these programs demonstrated statistically significant reductions in co-parental conflict. A discussion and critique of the program evaluation articles are within this review.