CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH-CONFLICT DIVORCES OF PARENTS WITH MINOR CHILDREN

Abstract

Researches dealing with divorce from a psychosocial perspective highlight the child’s exposure to parental conflicts during the divorce process and the quality of co-parenting as the two most powerful factors influencing the adjustment of children to the process of divorce. Thus, the adjustment of children is particularly vulnerable in high-conflict divorces. Having this in mind, the emphasis in this paper is on an overview of the definitions of high-conflict divorce and the factors that contribute to it. A better understanding of ongoing conflict between parents can help facilitate risk assessment for developing high-conflict divorces, as well as create evidence-based prevention programs for that matter. The purpose is to undertake preventive and treatment activities to reduce the level of conflict between parents and prevent consequences for children. In addition, the need for the development of such programs is emphasized, as well as their balanced implementation in the social welfare system, through family centers and other authorized social services providers.