I’ll Never Forgive You: High Conflict Divorce, Social Network, and Co-Parenting Conflicts

Abstract

The relation between divorce, co-parenting conflicts, and children’s adjustment problems has been well established. An unresolved question for research and clinical interventions, however, is how conflicts between parents are maintained and/or escalate. This cross-sectional research tested the hypothesis that co-parenting conflicts in divorced couples are associated with perceived social network disapproval and that this relation is mediated by parents’ tendency to forgive each other. In Study 1, a convenience sample of 136 divorced parents recruited via online forums, we showed that perceived social network disapproval was indeed positively related to co-parenting conflicts and that parents’ tendency to forgive the other parent—albeit partly—explained this relationship. Strength of our research is that in Study 2, 110 parents referred to children’s mental health care because the wellbeing of the children was severely compromised by the severity of the conflicts between parents, we replicated these results. In both studies perceived social network disapproval and co-parenting conflicts were positively related and this link was mediated by forgiveness: perceived social network disapproval was negatively related to forgiveness, which in turn was negatively related to more parental conflicts.

Whose Life is it Anyway? Exploring the Social Relations of High-Conflict Divorce Cases in Southern Norway

“…The concept of 'high-conflict divorce' refers to situations where parents remain in patterns of interaction characterized by long-lasting and bitter disputes over child-related concerns for several years after separation (Anderson et al 2010;Birnbaum & Bala, 2010). Research has consistently demonstrated that such prolonged conflicts between parents after divorce can be detrimental for children's well-being and psychosocial health (Amato, 2000;Amato & Keith, 1991;DeBoard-Lucas et al 2010;Emery, 1999;Fincham et al 1994;Grych, 2005;Lansford, 2009;Visser et al 2017).…”

Szülői felügyeleti jog, kapcsolattartás és tartásdíjfizetés a különélő magyar szülők gyakorlatában

“…Közvetlenül a válást követő időszakban a szülők általában ellenségesebbek egymással, de a konfliktusos viszony a felek között egy-két éven belül javulni szokott (Bonach 2005;Visser et al 2017). Szintén fontos a volt párok viszonyában az, hogy elégedettek-e a gyermekfelügyelet rendezésével és a tartásdíj mértékével.…”

Facebook intensity, social network support, stability and satisfaction in long-distance and geographically-close romantic relationships: A test of a mediation model

“…Maintaining a romantic relationship does not only involve the romantic partners themselves but also a network of people who may provide information and support (Canary & Stafford, 1992;Cox et al, 1997;Felmlee, 2001;Visser et al, 2017). Among the various communication technologies, social network sites (SNSs), like Facebook, have both private and public affordances which may facilitate couples' access to their social network.…”