Resolution Systems InstituteResolution Systems InstituteMenuDonate
  • Home
  • About
    • Overview
    • Mission
    • People
    • History
    • Awards
    • Careers
    • Support RSI
  • Services
    • Program Administration
    • Program Design
    • Research and Evaluation
  • Our Impact
    • Child Protection Mediation
    • Evaluation of a Child Protection Mediation Program
    • Eviction Mediation
    • Foreclosure Mediation
  • Resource Center
    • Overview
    • Court ADR Basics
    • Guide to Program Success
    • Mediation Efficacy Studies
    • Model Surveys
    • The OPEN Project: ODR Party Engagement
    • Peer Review Tools
    • Special Topics
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Donate
Combined ShapeBack to search results

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Child-Informed Mediation

Ballard, Robin; Holtzworth-Munroe, Amy; Applegate, Amy G.; D'Onofrio, Brian; Bates, John E. . Psychology, Public Policy and Law Vol. 19(3), Aug. 1, 2013
http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-28074-001

This study compares child-focused (CF) mediation and child-inclusive (CI) mediation to normal family mediation (mediation as usual – MAU). In the two child-centered mediation processes, a children’s consultant attended mediation and figuratively brought “the child into the room”. In both, discussion focused on issues based on research into the children’s well-being. In CI mediation, the consultant also interviewed the child and summarized for the parents what the child said. The study looked at the parents’ and mediators’ satisfaction with the process, settlement rate, and elements of the agreements reached. It included 69 mediations conducted over two years.

Parents who agreed to participate in the study were randomly assigned to one of the three processes (parents with children under the age of 5 were not assigned to child-informed mediation). After the mediation, parents and mediators completed surveys about their experience. The content of the 57 agreements for these cases was coded for legal and physical custody, parenting time and child support. Other items coded were future communication between the parents, provisions for child safety and child-related ration

The study found that CF and CI mediations led to significantly different agreements than those reached in MAU. They led to provisions that were seen to be more likely to promote the well-being of the child.  There was, however, no difference in parental satisfaction between the three processes, and no difference in settlement rate. Mediators were more satisfied (though not significantly) with CF and CI mediation than MAU.

Please note this resource is online but is behind a paywall and requires a subscription to access.

11 E Adams Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60603

  • 312.922.6475
  • info@aboutrsi.org
  • © 1998-2025 RSI
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

To give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies. If you continue browsing, you accept our use of cookies and agree to our Disclaimer, Privacy & Copyright policy.

Learn More