How Inter-parental Conflict Affects Children: theory leads to research leads to intervention
Gordon Harold, PhD, Alexander McMillan Chair in Childhood Studies and Professor of Psychology, University of Otago is a Senior Research Fellow at the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships (TCCR) in London. In September 2009, as part of the celebrations of the move of TCCR to new premises ( where the Centre is the only provider of couple therapy in central London offering help to couples whatever their income), Professor Harold spoke about his work on inter-parental relationships and childrens mental health development, the theory, research and practice implications.
Based on extensive research of which he gave a brief overview, Professor Harolds conclusion was that children are affected by inter-parental conflict, not the fact of it so much as how it is expressed and managed. When children witness conflict it affects their development in very many ways, including the neurobiological development of the brain, their emotional development (so how they deal with feelings of fear, anger, guilt, worry etc), their cognitive development (so children will respond differently based on the expectations they derive of conflict if they have been exposed to inter-parental conflict that is frequent, intense and poorly resolved) and their social and behavioural development (many will show signs of aggression, and have problems in relating to their peers).
His message was that although a lot of funding has been put into parenting interventions; when conflict between couples is a feature of everyday family life, targeting parenting as a site of intervention may ultimately be misplaced in terms of improving outcomes for children and show low financial return relative to overall investment (i.e. reducing problems among parents and children living in households marked by high levels of inter-parental conflict). He suggested that investment in training, education and interventions aimed at the inter-parental relationship may see improved outcomes for parents and children and a reduction in the inter-generational transmission of family conflict patterns. It would, quite simply, mean better outcomes for children and parents in the long-term.
Professor Harold is now working on putting these research findings into practice, through a Nuffield Foundation Project. The aim is to develop intervention programmes aimed at improving outcomes for both parents and children who become embroiled in inter-parental conflict, with specific applications aimed at the family justice system.
TCCR has developed a service for parents called Parenting Together. The Parenting Together service is an exciting development in TCCRs range of services to couples and parents. The intervention provided in this service is built on a solid basis of peer-reviewed research that childrens development is adversely affected including academically by ongoing inter-parental conflict, particularly where the focus of the arguments is the child themselves (Harold, Aitken & Shelton, 2007). Whilst mediation is an effective intervention for many parents, it is also true that others will need a more therapeutic longer term approach to help with more entrenched difficulties.
Parenting Together works with parents, whether living together, separated or divorced, who are having difficulty parenting their children co operatively and are in conflict over parenting issues. This service helps parents to address problems of angry and violent conflict that is centred around the parenting of children. Parents are encouraged and helped to learn about more productive way to parent together and focus on promoting their Parenting Alliance. For more information see TCCRs website where contact details for this service can be found. (www.tccr.org.uk).
Hazel Wright
Partner
hazelwright@cumberlandellis.com
Solicitor, mediator and trustee of TCCR
