It is all about a positive impact…
Reduce IPC to Protect Children’s Health and Well-being. The high prevalence of parental separation/divorce, the substantial number of children exposed to post-separation/divorce IPC, and the strong link between IPC and children’s mental health problems highlight the importance of evidence-based interventions that reduce post-separation/divorce IPC and mitigate its harmful effects. The powerful protective nature of positive parenting (i.e. high parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline) is well-documented, especially for children who experience separation/divorce and even in the face of high IPC. This is consistent with prior research indicating that intervening with parents plays a key role in interventions targeting children’s mental health. Thus, it is crucial that parenting programs also directly address IPC. One promising approach for protecting children from post-separation/divorce IPC is targeted, parenting-focused intervention strategies that reduce the frequency and intensity of destructive IPC.
Games that Foreground Imaginative Play Offer an Innovative Approach to Intervene Upon IPC. One of the biggest challenges for inducing change through parenting interventions is creating content that resonates with and engages parents to internalize the messages and change their behaviors. We propose to design a game which challenges the user to practice coping strategies as they encounter the complex circumstances found within the divorce experience. The objective of this seed grant is to conduct the foundational phase of the research by collecting the children’s stories about their conflict experiences through gameplay. We theorize that a game format will lessen the feelings of shame, increase empathy, and bring about behavioral change for the parents, and in turn, protect the mental health of their children. We believe in the potential of the arts, creative humanities, and play to make a meaningful difference in this area, particularly in enhancing the health and wellness of individuals.
