{"id":260659,"date":"2025-08-06T08:10:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominiclevent.com\/blog\/?p=260659"},"modified":"2025-08-06T08:10:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:10:04","slug":"asu-uncovers-what-helps-children-cope-with-divorce-and-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominiclevent.com\/blog\/asu-uncovers-what-helps-children-cope-with-divorce-and-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"ASU uncovers what helps children cope with divorce and conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Separation and divorce are a reality for many families.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalf of all children experience the breakup of their parents\u2019 relationship before the age of 16,\u201d says Arizona State University Assistant Professor Karey O\u2019Hara.<\/a><\/p>\n

And while some children struggle with the emotional toll of family conflict, others show remarkable resilience. So what makes the difference?<\/p>\n

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Why this research matters<\/h4>\n

Research is the invisible hand that powers America\u2019s progress. It unlocks discoveries and creates opportunity. It develops new technologies and new ways of doing things.<\/p>\n

Learn more about ASU discoveries that are contributing to changing the world and making America the world\u2019s leading economic power at\u00a0researchmatters.asu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

At ASU, researchers are working to answer that question through a groundbreaking, multiyear study supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.<\/p>\n

Project Brain Team<\/a>, which is housed within ASU’s REACH Institute<\/a> and led by O\u2019Hara, focuses on helping children in high-conflict, divorced families build emotional resilience.<\/p>\n

The project<\/i><\/span>Team members include: Sharlene Wolchik, senior faculty advisor and primary mentor; Karey O\u2019Hara, principal investigator; Marisela Torres, project director; Sydney Parker, third-year PhD student; Disha Kotecha, second-year PhD student; Michelle Yang, MS program graduate and research assistant; Kathy Yakaitis,\u00a0Jessica Rodriguez Gasca and\u00a0Claudia Gonzales, intake interviewers; Ana-Paulina Garcia and Anne Marreel, data collection interviewers.<\/span><\/span><\/span> is guided by both scientific evidence and input from children and families with lived experience.<\/p>\n

Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, but how parents handle it makes all the difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cDestructive conflict like yelling, blaming or putting children in the middle can be incredibly damaging,\u201d says O\u2019Hara, a clinical psychologist in the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics. \u201cBut when parents model respectful disagreement, apologies and problem-solving, children can actually benefit. They learn that conflicts can be resolved in healthy ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her advice: \u201cIf a blow-up happens in front of a child, don\u2019t ignore it. Say: \u2018I\u2019m sorry you had to see that. It\u2019s not your fault. We\u2019re going to work it out.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

According to O\u2019Hara, one of the most powerful buffers against emotional stress is a warm, caring bond between parent and child.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our research, a strong parent-child relationship is characterized by warmth, responsiveness and open communication,\u201d she said. \u201cThat relationship becomes a child\u2019s anchor, even during times of family stress.\u201d<\/p>\n

O’Hara says three protective factors consistently emerge as critical for helping children navigate the fallout of divorce and high parental conflict.<\/p>\n

In ASU\u2019s parenting programs, parents learn how to:<\/p>\n