Het verschil van het ouderschapsplan op ouderlijke conflicten en probleemgedrag bij kinderen van gescheiden ouders

Abstract

Background: In 2009, Dutch government imposed a mandatory parenting plan when parents file for a divorce, to limit the conflict between parents in the upbringing of their children. Aim: To investigate whether the parenting plan after divorce functions as intended, by examining the differences between parental conflicts and internalizing and externalizing problems in children whose parents are separated before and after its implementation. In addition, the role of age in this possible difference is examined. Method: The current research is carried out in the cross-sequential study, 'Students & Families 2006-2016' ['Scholieren & Gezinnen 2006-2016']. The data come from self-report questionnaires completed by children from divorced families. Two groups were made: one consisting of children from parents who divorced before 2009, and one after 2009. The dataset consists of 549 students including 257 boys and 291 girls, aged 9 to 17, (M= 13.05, SD = 1.42). Reliable and valid existing instruments were used to measure parental conflicts and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Results: After the implementation of the mandatory parenting plan the results show significantly more parental conflicts and internalizing problems of children, whereas externalizing problems did not significantly differ. The results remained the same when accounting for the age difference between the groups in an analysis of covariance. Conclusion: The mandatory parenting plan does not prevent parental conflicts or reduce externalizing and internalizing problems in children after divorce. Future research is recommended, also to create appropriate interventions that protect the well-being of children after parental separation.