https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7305-9909
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Abstract
This scoping review aims to provide a systematic overview of the empirical literature on the consequences of divorce-related relocation for children. Literature in English and Dutch focused on divorce-related relocation within countries was screened. The 17 empirical studies, based on 10 independent samples and addressing the consequences of divorce-related relocation, were coded, and analyzed. The results of the included studies, with due caution given the quality of the studies and variation in the data, seem to suggest that divorce-related relocation might possibly have a short-term negative impact on psychological-, relational- and behavioral consequences. The few observations on financial-, physical health- and educational consequences made it difficult to draw conclusions. Extensive empirical research on this topic should be conducted, preferably longitudinal and including a comparison group. This could provide further insight into the short- and long-term consequences of divorce-related relocation for children and the possible interconnectedness of these consequences.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 More information about PRISMA can be found on http://www.prisma-statement.org/.
2 Including synonyms and closely related words.
3 The full search strategies for the first mentioned databases can be found in the supplementary information.
4 The protocol has not been published but is accessible and can be requested from the author via e-mail ([email protected]).
5 This second screener was an experienced student-assistant from the department. The contact details of this student-assistant are known by the research group, but not mentioned here regarding privacy reasons.
6 More information about ATLAS.ti can be found on https://atlasti.com/.
7 ‘Bottom-up’ in this context means that the variables in the studies shaped the ideas for the different domains, and thus the choice of domains is based on the data in the literature.
8 This distinction can be subject for discussion and the included studies use different terms. Based on the mentioned literature this choice was made.
9 This second screener was another person than the second screener in the screening process. This second screener was a colleague from the VU, a PhD-student. The contact details of this colleague are known by the research group, but not mentioned here regarding privacy reasons.
10 Which studies used the same sample can be found in , indicated by the footnotes and different colors.
11 The data-extraction sheet can be requested by sending an e-mail to the author via ([email protected]).
12 The distribution of measures per domain can be found in in the appendix.
13 The numbers refer respectively to the included studies, which can be found in in the appendix.
14 The specifics and descriptive information on the sample details of the 17 included studies can be found in in the appendix.
15 Research 5 and 6 are based on the same sample: “Psychology Department Study,” as research 6 re-analyses the data of 5.
16 Research 7 and 8 are based on the same sample: “Parents with Contested Court Order.”
17 This information was not explicitly available in the study.
18 Research 9 and 10 are based on the same sample: “100 New Zealand Families sample.” The focus is different, while 9 focuses on the parents and 10 on the children of the sample.
19 Research 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are based on the same sample: “5-year prospective longitudinal study,” although the focus in some studies is different. Research 12 focuses on the mothers whose relocation application was denied and who did not move because of this. Research 14 focuses on the experiences of the children involved and reports on survey-data that is not used in the other research. The focus of research 15 seems to lie in the long-term consequences and experiences after the relocation dispute. The latter is not, however, explicitly mentioned in the research, but is derived from the data by the author.
20 This information was not explicitly available in the study. What is said is the following: “Relocation cases in Australia are just a subset of the general body of disputes on parenting matters. For this reason, there is no need to provide a clear definition of what a relocation case is.”
21 This information was not explicitly available in the study.
22 These two studies reported on the same observations and data.