Controversies in divorce mediation and intimate partner violence: A focus on the children

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and parental separation are two related and serious potential problems faced by children; both are associated with increased risks for children. Proponents of mediation for separating parents believe that, relative to traditional adversarial court proceedings, mediation may lead to better outcomes for children by decreasing parental conflict. However, the question of whether mediation should be conducted with parents experiencing IPV is a contentious one, although few arguments on either side of the debate have been supported by empirical research. We examine some of the specific controversies regarding mediation in the context of IPV, including whether universal IPV screening should be required, whether mediation procedures should be modified to accommodate reports of IPV, and whether knowledge of IPV should lead to changes in mediation agreement content. We also consider directions for future research to address important, unanswered questions in this area.

Research Highlights
► Mediation for families with IPV is controversial.
► Mediators need better IPV screens but are unclear what type of IPV should be of concern.
► What is impact of procedural accommodations on the mediation process?
► Mediation agreements reached of families with and without IPV do not differ consistently.