Kids in the Middle - results of national online survey

Each year between 150,000 and 200,000 parental couples separate.  One in three children are affected by parental separation before they reach the age of 16.  Sometimes separation is the right thing for parents to do, but when it is badly handled children can experience confusion and despair. 

And although most separating parents want to do the best for their children, the children's needs can be overlooked in their parents' emotional turmoil and distress. The problem is not so much bad parents, as parents going through a bad time - which many had not expected and are not prepared for. 

The result can be children caught in the middle of their parents' conflict - with long-term consequences for both children and parents.

Many single parents completed the survey, through our website.
Overall, more than 1,700 parents and children responded.

The survey showed that:

• 76 per cent of respondents thought that children were affected by parents arguing with each other;
• 98 per cent agreed that children should be a priority when parents are managing a separation;
• 80 per cent felt that children weren’t encouraged to talk about their parents’ separation; and
• 72 per cent of children felt they needed someone to talk to about their feelings.
  

Survey report covers the following issues:

1. Reducing conflict
2. Supporting the children
3. Ensuring services better support separating and separated parents
4. What we want
5. What's next?

Survey report:

Factsheet: