ABSTRACT
The relationship dissolution process depends on many factors, most notably parents' marital status and whether they utilize the legal system. Because marriage is a legal contract, married parents may divorce or legally separate. Divorce and parental separation can, though not always do, have a variety of negative effects on parents and their children. Children of separated parents, compared to children of continuously cohabiting or married parents, score lower on measures of behavioral, social, health, and academic performance and are at increased risk for ending their own adult relationships in divorce. Family Mediation increased in popularity as an option for separating parents. In mediation, parties negotiate the settlement of issues outside of court, with the help of a third-party mediator. Mediation improves interparental communication and cooperation specifically pertaining to the child and child-related issues. That is, parents who utilize mediation rather than litigation report increased communication about their children and co-parenting cooperation.
