High-Conflict Divorce: An Evaluation of New Ways for Families

Abstract

High-conflict divorces have increased in the past two decades. They can include poor communication, low problem solving skills, aggressive, and violent behaviours. When they involve minor children there is an increased social concern. Children exposed to high-conflict can experience short and long-term negative biopsychosocial outcomes. Professionals (i.e., the courts and social agencies) involved in high-conflict families struggle to provide effective supports. The current thesis aims to evaluate the counselling intervention: New Ways for Families for divorcing co-parents going through a high-conflict divorce. The Ribner Scale, developed by Neil Ribner, was used to measure pre- and post- intervention levels on the factors associated with high-conflict divorce: (a) perceived inter-parental conflict; (b) communication; (c) co-operation and (c) continuous litigation; With an inclusion of violence to explore its overlapping role with high-conflict. In addition, this thesis will add to the knowledge base around the demographics of former couples involved in a high-conflict divorce.