Child and Family Characteristics of Children's Post-separation Visitation Refusal

Abstract

Approximately 20% of parents who separate are unable to settle custody and/or visitation issues and seek the intervention of court-related professionals. A large proportion of children involved in these disputes are reluctant to visit or refuse to visit with one parent. This study explored the child (age, gender, birth order) and family characteristics (history of interparental conflict and violence, nature of parental concerns, parental attitude toward visitation) related to post-separation visitation reluctance and refusal among 59 children in custody/visitation disputes. The findings highlight the interaction of child and family factors in shaping children's attitudes toward visitation. Consistent with other studies, older children more often had negative attitudes about visitation. A history of interparental violence also characterized the families of children who held negative views about the visiting parent. Although custodial parents were less supportive of visitation, they were no more likely to undermine visits or denigrate the other parent when children expressed negative sentiments about visitation.