Implementation Determinants of a Digital Program for Children Coping with High Conflict Separation/Divorce

Interparental conflict (IPC) is the most documented risk factor for the development of child mental health problems when parents separate or divorce. This study represents the first step in a multi-phase project to strengthen adaptive coping and reduce mental health problems in children exposed to high IPC after separation/divorce. Our overarching goal is to develop a scalable digital coping program that can reach its intended audience should it show positive effects in effectiveness trials. This study identified key implementation determinants before program development to ensure its design supports successful implementation. We interviewed 20 family law professionals and 15 separating/divorcing parents. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided our inductive coding process to examine three research questions: (1) Is a digital coping program needed and wanted by the family law community?; (2) How do we design and structure a program that courts will adopt, providers will recommend, parents will support, and children will enjoy?; (3) How do we support the widespread use of a program for children facing high-IPC separation/divorce? Participants unequivocally expressed that a digital coping program is needed and wanted. They advised us to design and structure a program that is acceptable to parents and aligned with court procedures. To support widespread use, participants stated it must be affordable with a sliding scale option. The themes derived from the qualitative data provided a roadmap for addressing anticipated barriers and facilitators to implementation in the early stages of program design and development.