Separated Parents’ Experiences of Entrenched Co-Parenting Conflict and the Australian Family Law System

Abstract

For some parents following separation, shifting from a spousal and parental system to a parental system only can be difficult. The current thesis explored post separation entrenched co-parenting conflict within the context of the Australian family law system. Previous research has evidenced a broad, vague, and disparate body of knowledge around entrenched co-parenting conflict. In Australia only 3% of separated parents use the courts as their main pathway to finalise parenting arrangements, however one third of separated parents' co-parenting relationships comprise acrimonious behaviours which are constituted by high levels of conflict. Following separation legal processes may be drawn out and closure inhibited, with court and legal professionals reportedly spending 90% of their time on this separating population. The current thesis explored entrenched co-parenting conflict across two studies. Firstly, within a quantitative research design (Study 1) comprising online surveys and dyadic analysis. Secondly, within a qualitative research design (Study 2) comprising interviews.