Preventive intervention with latency‐aged children of divorce: A replication study

Abstract

This replication study assessed the efficacy of a school-based preventive intervention for latency-aged children of divorce. The Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP) emphasizes support, identifying and expressing divorce-related feelings, training situationally relevant communication, problem solving, and anger control skills, and enhancing self-esteem. Fifty-four children of divorce participated in the 11-session program conducted in small groups. Their adjustment was contrasted at pre and post with that of demographically matched peers (N = 78) from intact families on teacher, parent, self-report, and group leader measures. Children of divorce were less well adjusted than their peers before the intervention. They improved significantly after the intervention, approaching youngsters from intact families in adjustment status. The replication data support CODIP's efficacy as a preventive alternative for children of divorce. Needed future development and research steps are considered.

An evaluation of the efficacy of a preventive intervention for 4th?6th grade urban children of divorce

“…Although the teacher data fell short of significance, the present findings are generally consistent with those from prior CODIP studies showing beneficial program effects for 4th-6th grade suburban children (Pedro-Carroll & Cowen, 1985;Pedro-Carroll et al, 1986), and 2nd-3rd grade urban children (Alpert: Gillis et al, 1989). Collectively, these findings support the conclusion that preventive interventions tailored to specific group attributes can provide important benefits for children of different ages and sociodemographic backgrounds.…”

“…High scores reflect more positive attitudes. The CASP has an alpha of .73 (Pedro-Carroll et al, 1986).…”

“…Based on generative findings identifying stressors that divorce poses for children, CODIP seeks to provide support and enhance relevant competencies and coping skills. Controlled evaluations of this program (Pedro-Carroll & Cowen, 1985;1987;Pedro-Carroll, Cowen, Hightower, & Guare, 1986) showed that CODIP children, compared to demographically matched non-program divorce controls and a non-divorce comparison group, improved significantly on teacher ratings of classroom adjustment. CODIP parents reported improved communication with their children, more open expression of feelings, more age appropriate behavior, and an enhanced ability to deal with problem situations.…”

Les groupes d’enfants de parents séparés et la participation des parents

“…Malgré ces biais d'échantillonage, Pedro-Caroll et al (1986) ont choisi de se fonder sur ces résultats pour exclure du CODIP tout groupe de parents. Alors que la participation des parents était minimale dans les versions initiales de ce programme, la conception d'EntramiS et de la version du CODIP destinée aux enfants de cinq et six ans a permis d'améliorer cet aspect en informant les parents sur le contenu général des rencontres ainsi que sur les attitudes et les comportements appropriés dans un contexte de séparation ou de recomposition familiale (Pedro-Caroll et Alpert- Gillis, 1997 3 ; Mireault et al, 1991).…”

A creative drama prevention program for easing early adolescents' adjustment to school transitions

“…We also found that privacy for each group was lacking because of the scarcity of adequate space in the school, and that attempting to videotape skits with one set of equipment was too much hassle. In general, by the program's conclusion we regarded the students as moderately competent and slightly problematic in their peer relations skills, with the boys less skilled than the girls.In February the students completed the Group Satisfaction Scale (GSS), a measure I devised, based on a similar scale by Pedro-Carroll et al (1986). The GSS has eight five-step items (range = 0-32), assessing group participants' expressed satisfaction with the social climate of the drama groups.…”