Mediated Divorces have positive outcomes for parents and children

There is an overwhelming amount of data that shows that divorce mediation has far better outcomes for all involved than litigated divorces.  The couples involved in mediating a divorce were much happier with the results because they felt that they felt that they had a voice in the decision as opposed to a litigated one in which they did not always find the outcome fair. Children also responded positively from low conflict divorce mediation because when the parents are fighting less the children can have better relationships after the separation.  When divorce gets to the higher conflict litigation process often divorce lawyers, justifiably so, place the needs of their client above the needs of the families as a whole.   That is not to say however that divorce lawyers are not needed in the mediations process, because they often can be quite helpful.  Massachusetts divorce lawyer, Barbara Hill writes, can help throughout the mediation process with providing input, giving suggestions to their client, and also going over the final agreement and taking the necessary steps to ensure that it is carried out correctly.

Not only are divorce mediations more amiable then their litigated counterparts they are also more cost effective.  Studies have overwhelmingly shown “that the mediation produces more satisfaction with the divorce process, more satisfaction with the divorce outcome, a better post-divorce relationship with the spouse, and more of a sense that children’s needs are being met.”  (Lori Shaw, “Divorce Mediation Outcome Results”, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Summer, 2010, Volume 27, No 4, pgs 447-467.)”  Other studies have found that “only 20 percent of couples who litigated their divorce described the outcome as fair,” whereas nearly 90% of mediated divorce cases settled successfully and 93% of couples would recommend mediation to others.

Mediated divorces are not only positive for the parents they also reduce the stress on children from separated families.  The problems that plague children from separated parents are caused more by the internal conflict between them and less from the separation itself.  These children that are exposed to extended conflict “are at risk for developing a range of emotional and behavioral problems, both during childhood and later in life.”  (John H. Grych.  Interpersonal Conflict as A Risk Factor for Child Maladjustment: Implications for the Development of Prevention Programs. 43 Fam.Ct.Rev.97, 97, 2005)  Behavioral and emotional problems can be quelled by reducing the conflict between separating parents through a more affable divorce process.  Studies have shown that children from these low conflict mediated divorce families fared as well in behavioral and emotional testing as did their non divorced equivalents.  (Long, N., Slater, E., Forehand, R., & Fauber, R. (1988). Continued high or reduced interparental conflict following divorce: Relation to young adolescent adjustment. Journal of Consulting and ClinicalPsychology, 56, 467-469.)