Preventive intervention supporting families after divorce or separation: groups and e-health for Dutch parents.

Parental divorce or separation is one of the most impactful life events to all involved. Following breakup adults experience more stress and depressive feelings and function less optimally as a parent than adults in stable relationships (e.g., Van der Valk et al., 2004). In addition, research consistently shows that children with divorced parents score significantly lower on measures of wellbeing, conduct, psychological adjustment, self-concept, and social relations (Amato & James, 2010).

In the Netherlands, evidence-based preventive interventions are available to support children of divorce. For parents, such evidence-based solutions were lacking (e.g., Cloostermans et al., 2013). In particular, preventive support programs to inform separated parents and empower them as a parent were needed . This paper provides information about an initiative providing such intervention.

‘Divorce ATLAS’ aims at informing and empowering parents after break-up and teaching effective coping and communication skills. The intervention offers preventive support in two varieties: (a) a 2-sessions group program derived from the US ACT for the Children intervention (Pedro-Carroll et al. ); and (b) an e-health version inspired by the US Children in Between program (Gordon et al.). Both versions include the same content. ATLAS is subject to a quasi-experimental (group version) and RCT (e-health version) study into the process and impact of the intervention (results expected 2019).

Preventive parenting support for parents after separation, leads to:

- more knowledge about (co-)parenting strategies;

- more intentions to use positive (co-)parenting strategies;

- increased feelings of competence;

- increased awareness on the impact of divorce or separation on children;

- increased prosocial behavior in children of participating parents;

- increased wellbeing of parents and their children;

- increased social support satisfaction

- Before intervention

- After intervention

- Six months follow-up

Parents participate in ‘Divorce ATLAS’. Divorce ATLAS aims at informing and empowering parents after break-up and teaching effective coping and communication skills. The intervention offers preventive support in two varieties: (a) a 2-sessions group program derived from the US ACT for the Children intervention (Pedro-Carroll et al. ); and (b) an e-health version inspired by the US Children in Between program (Gordon et al.). Both versions include the same content.