Protective factors
Competent and involved custodial parents
Cooperative co-parenting
Individual child characteristics such as intelligence, ability to self-regulate, independence, high self-esteem
Strong internal resources in parents
Positive achievements in academics, sports, and positive peer relations
A close sustained relationship with a competent adult such as a teacher, other family member, therapist, friend’s parent, etc.
Having an easy temperament
Positive sibling support
The active and continued involvement of both parents
Economic stability
Positive parent-child relationships
Interventions that enabled parents to settle disputes: divorce education programs and mediation
A positive father-child relationship
Mothers having a high degree of warmth toward their children
One parent having a positive relationship with their child
Low level of parental hostility
Risk factors
Custodial parent exhibiting less effective parenting
Diminished involvement from the noncustodial parent
Continued parental hostility with each other after the divorce
The diminishment of economic resources
Low maternal warmth
Mothers with a high level of depressive symptoms
Continued and repeated life changes including changes in residence and schools
Subsequent parental relationships, marriages, and divorces
A divorce process that is acrimonious