A Pilot Study of a Support Group for Children in Divorcing Families: Aiding Community Program Development and Marking Pathways to Resilience

Abstract

The effectiveness of a community-based group for children with divorcing parents was evaluated. Using seven parent–child dyads, children's perceptions were assessed pre- and postprogram and parents' perspectives were assessed at group culmination. Results demonstrate a significant increase in children's perceptions of their family situation as “normal.” Better coping ability, fewer feelings of self-blame, and feeling less triangulated by parents was also reported postprogram, although these results were not statistically significant. Parents reported the intervention to be effective. Initial evidence for the effectiveness of the program was demonstrated by balancing community program goals, using children's and parents' perspectives, and considering clinical versus statistical significance.

Keywords:

• children's groups
• community-based program evaluation
• effectiveness

Acknowledgments

The Families in Motion Research and Information Group in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria is supported by a Standard Research Grant awarded to Marion F. Ehrenberg by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and a Seed Funding Research award awarded to Rotem Regev by the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at the University of Victoria/Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which are acknowledged with gratitude. The authors also thank BC Families in Transition for their partnership in evaluating their program and all participant children, parents, and counselors.