Implementation Determinants of a Digital Program for Children Coping with High Conflict Separation/Divorce

Area of Science:

• Child and Family Psychology
• Digital Health Interventions
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Interparental conflict (IPC) is a significant risk factor for child mental health problems following parental separation or divorce.
• Existing interventions may not adequately address the needs of children exposed to high IPC.
• A scalable digital program is proposed to strengthen adaptive coping skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key implementation determinants for a digital coping program for children exposed to high IPC post-separation.
• To ensure the program's design supports successful implementation and widespread adoption.
• To gather insights from stakeholders on program design, structure, and accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 20 family law professionals and 15 separating/divorcing parents.
• Inductive coding guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).
• Examination of program need, design preferences, and strategies for widespread use.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders strongly affirmed the need and desire for a digital coping program.
• Recommendations emphasized program acceptability to parents and alignment with court procedures.
• Affordability, including a sliding scale, was identified as crucial for widespread use.

Conclusions:

• A digital coping program is highly desired by the family law community and parents.
• Program design must prioritize parental acceptance, court compatibility, and affordability.
• Early identification of implementation factors is essential for developing a successful and scalable intervention for children of separated parents.