Divorce mediation: The impact of mediation on the psychological well-beingof children and parents

This study evaluated levels of psychological distress experienced by childr en (aged 4-16) and parents at the beginning of and one month after mediatio n for child-related disputes. In contrast to previous research, this study employed both child- and parent-reports of child outcome. Mediation was ass ociated with reductions in child-reported, though not parent-reported, chil d psychological distress and with reductions in parent-reports of their own psychological distress. The negotiation of successful agreements in mediat ion was not related to improved psychological well-being of family members. The difficulties encountered (i.e. small numbers, low response rate) rende r the results tentative. Implications of the findings for future research a re discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.