Reducing Parental Conflict: what is parental conflict?
Find out what reducing parental conflict is and about the work of the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme.
Applies to England
What is ‘parental conflict’?
Some level of arguing and conflict between parents is often a normal part of everyday life. However, there is strong evidence to show how inter-parental conflict that is frequent, intense and poorly resolved can have a significant negative impact on children’s mental health and long-term life chances.
Damaging conflict between parents can be expressed in many ways such as:
- unresolved arguing
- silence
- lack of respect
- lack of resolution
Conflict can affect children in all types of parental relationships, including:
- parents who are in a relationship, whether married or not
- parents who have separated or divorced
- biological and step parents
- other family members playing a parenting role
- foster and adoptive parents
- same-sex couples
The Reducing Parental Conflict programme focuses on the ways that a couple behave, rather than the status of the relationship.
Read a report on the key evidence on what works to enhance inter-parental relationships.
Find out more about parental conflict in Section 2.1 of the Reducing Parental Conflict Commissioner Guide.
Further research and resources on parental conflict are available on the Foundations Reducing Parental Conflict hub. Foundations is a research partner of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the hub provides a repository of key evidence, tools and guidance on Reducing Parental Conflict.
Find out why reducing parental conflict matters to children, families and services
Reducing parental conflict is everybody’s business. Leaders and practitioners can strengthen local services and partnerships to provide more effective help to:
- identify families at risk of experiencing parental conflict
- identify families experiencing parental conflict
- promote better outcomes for children
- reduce demand for higher-cost services
Watch the video below to find out more about why reducing parental conflict matters to children and to services:
Why reducing parental conflict matters to children and to services
Find more about the impact of parental conflict on children and the impact of parental conflict on local services.
Parental conflict and domestic abuse
When addressing parental conflict in a relationship, practitioners should continue to be vigilant and confident there are no indicators of domestic abuse, including fear, imbalance of power and controlling behaviour. If there are signs of controlling behaviour that adversely affects one person in a relationship, this can be an indicator of an abusive relationship.
Find out more about the different forms of domestic abuse.
The Reducing Parental Conflict programme seeks to address conflict not domestic abuse. In cases where domestic abuse is a concern, at any stage, local policies and procedures must be followed to manage any potential risk of harm.
Find out more about the difference between parental conflict and domestic abuse.
If you would like more information about domestic abuse, discuss with your line manager, local domestic abuse services or designated safeguarding lead. You can also read about and find resources for assessing harmful conflict.
Last updated 13 April 2022 + show all updates
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Some changes to guidance on: Reducing Parental Conflict: what is parental conflict? The changes refer to forms of parental conflict and domestic abuse.
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First published.