Child Adjustment in Divorced Families: Can We Successfully Intervene among Dutch 6-8 Year-Olds?

Parental divorce impacts strongly on children. Children with divorced parents score significantly lower on measures of wellbeing, conduct, psychological adjustment, self-concept, and social relations (Amato & James, 2010). In 2009, about one million marriages ended in divorce in the European Union (European Commission, 2013). To this number add terminations of live-in partnerships. Children are frequently involved. Given the large numbers of children involved, and the negative impact of divorce on children, prevention of problems for children of divorce and helping them adapt to the divorce should be prioritized. The US Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP), an evidence-based group intervention designed to prevent divorce-related problems in children, may meet this need for preventive support.

Aim of this study was to assess the effects of an adapted CODIP module ("Dappere Dino's") for 6-8 years old children in the Dutch setting.

A quasi-experimental study is conducted consisting of 3 groups:

- children participating in Dappere Dino's groups (experimental group),

- children with separated parents not participating (divorce control group)

- children from intact families (non divorced comparison group).

The impact of Dappere Dino's on child functioning and wellbeing is measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), Parent Evaluation Form (Pedro-Carroll & Cowen, 1989), and Cantril ladder (Cantril, 1965).

Preventive group support for 6 to 8 years old children after parental divorce or separation, leads to:

- more positive child functioning;

- decreased emotional and behavioral problems of participating children; and

- increased child wellbeing;

- Before intervention

- After intervention

Children participate in "Dappere Dino's" (Dutch for ‘‘courageous dinosaurs’’). Dappere Dino's is a preventive group intervention consisting of 12 weekly sessions. The intervention goals are to:

- Minimize the emotional and behavioral problems that may result when children experience parental divorce or separation in their families

- Increase children’s ability to identify and appropriately express their feelings

- Increase children’s understanding and acceptance of divorce-related concepts

- Build confidence by teaching problem solving skills to help children cope with a variety of challenges