Longitudinal Program Evaluation of “Parenting Apart: Effective Co-Parenting”

Abstract

A program evaluation was conducted of a parent education program for divorcing parents of minor children. Using a retrospective post-then-pre design, 139 participants reported their knowledge before and after the program and their behaviors in the month prior to the program. Two-month follow-up interviews were used to assess behavior change. Results indicated that participants reported both knowledge gain and behavior change. Change in triangulation avoidance behavior (behaviors to keep children out of the middle of conflict) varied as a function of parenting stage. Knowledge gain regarding the impact of divorce and triangulation on children predicted behavior change in triangulation avoidance. Results are discussed, including recommendations for the program evaluated as well as suggestions for other parenting education programs for divorcing parents.