Reducing postdivorce conflict through a child-oriented digital intervention: A randomized controlled trial of SES NXT

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of SES NXT, a digital, age-adjusted intervention for children and adolescents of divorced parents, in reducing perceived postdivorce conflict. Drawing on family systems theory and the divorce stress adjustment perspective, we examined whether the intervention influenced conflict perceptions among youth and parents. Participants included 294 youths (ages 11-17) and their divorced parents (N = 467 family units) enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing the SES NXT intervention to a wait-list control group. The primary outcome was perceived postdivorce conflict, assessed via the Divorce Conflict Scale at baseline (T1), 4 weeks (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) postbaseline. Analyses used generalized estimating equations based on the intention-to-treat principle and adjusted for sociodemographic and mental health covariates. At 12-week follow-up, youth in the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of perceived parental conflict compared to controls, with medium-to-large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.67-0.76). Parents in the intervention group also reported significant reductions in postdivorce conflict, with medium-to-large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.62-0.81). No significant differences emerged between age versions of the intervention. Dose-response effects were observed for youth at 4 weeks, but not at 12 weeks. Findings suggest that digital, child-centered divorce interventions can reduce postdivorce conflict as perceived by both children and parents. These results support systemic models of change and highlight the potential of scalable, low-cost digital tools in addressing conflict dynamics in postdivorce families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).