An outcome analysis of a divorce mediation program.

摘要

Since the times of Solomon, divorce and custody proceedings have proven to be both personal as well as governmental matters of concern and jurisdiction. Throughout western history, the family, its sanctity, dissolution and distribution of property (including children) have been matters of both legislative and judicial concern. Progressively, responsibility for family dissolution has moved extensively outward from the family and community of neighbors as well as religious peers, to the formality of today's judicial system.; However, little research was conducted until the contemporary era regarding the personal and psychological, as well as social costs of divorce on the parties to the proceedings---particularly the children themselves. It was not until the 1970's that the first No-Fault divorce laws became effective throughout the United States. It was not until the past twenty years that a national system of Family Courts were established to deal exclusively with domestic concerns. While psychology has followed the impact of changes in domestic relations to the parties involved, the role of psychology in assessing and evaluating the legislative/judicial efficacy and impact on the parties have not kept pace with regulatory change.; This study proposed to evaluate two key years in a court system's operation, 1995 (baseline year) and 1996 (a year in which a series of legislative and judicial reforms were initiated to enhance court proceedings).; Overall, the biodemographic characteristics of divorcing parties has remained stable as a profile, while regulatory changes increased cost and time to complete proceedings for some categories of parties and reduced them for others. Formerly stable findings across parties (mediated, non-mediated, litigated) have begun to change in response to regulatory initiatives but the findings have yet to be stabilized. Longer terms of outcome study, and changes in the type, nature and accessibility of court data are recommended in order to provide an empirical database which can better inform recommendations for effective, efficacious and psychologically sound improvements to a system, which heretofore, did not address the psychic needs of the participants.