Children of divorce: Experiences of children whose parents attended a divorce education program

Focus groups were conducted with 14 children, ages 8-13, in an attempt to uncover the extent to which a divorce education program achieves its goal of improving the divorce experience for children. The children discussed problems with feeling caught in the middle of their parents' disputes, parents not keeping them informed, and complications arising when parents' new partners enter the family realm. These results suggest that the program does not fully reach its objectives. The children also said the best way a friend could help them cope with their parents' divorce is by discussing it, provided the friend has also been through a divorce. Accordingly, programs for children are recommended to further assuage children's divorce experience.