Mediation is often recommended as a calmer, cheaper alternative to a court fight. A randomised controlled trial gives some evidence on what mediation does and does not change.
What the trial found
A 2018 randomised controlled trial in the Journal of Family Psychology compared family mediation as usual with mediation that added motivational interviewing. In both groups, parents’ distress, co-parental conflict and attachment to the former partner declined from before to after mediation. Children’s adjustment did not change over that period. The motivational interviewing version helped parents reach agreements more often, but did not improve the other outcomes. The authors noted that running the study in a busy community service created challenges, so the findings should be treated with care.
What this suggests
- Mediation can lower distress and conflict between parents.
- Changes for children may take longer than the mediation itself.
- Adding techniques that help parties commit to agreements may help settlement.
Is mediation right for you?
Mediation works best when both parties can negotiate in good faith. If there is abuse, coercion or major power imbalance, talk to a lawyer before agreeing to mediate.
Frequently asked questions
Does mediation reduce conflict between divorcing parents?
In a 2018 randomised trial, co-parental conflict and distress declined from before to after mediation in both groups.
Does mediation improve children’s adjustment?
Child adjustment did not change over the period measured in that trial.
Does motivational interviewing help mediation?
It helped parents reach agreements but did not improve other outcomes in the trial.
References
- Morris M et al. (2018). A randomized controlled trial comparing family mediation with and without motivational interviewing. J Fam Psychol. PubMed 29658764
General information, not legal or medical advice. Divorce law and family circumstances vary, so speak to a qualified family lawyer or counsellor about your situation. Last updated 27 October 2026.
