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 partners parenting. Results: Children, particularly boys, had above average behaviour problems. Parent wellbeing and concerns about their ex-partners 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 childrens 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 childrens 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 allianc