A digital solution developed by researchers at the University of Copenhagen improves the mental health of children and young people after their parents' divorce, according to a new study. The platform also reduces family conflict, and several Danish municipalities have already adopted it.
Every year, thousands of Danish children experience their parents splitting up. For many, this is a major upheaval that can leave lasting marks on their wellbeing and daily lives.
A new study conducted in collaboration with 21 Danish municipalities and the Danish Agency of Family Law shows that a digital tool developed by researchers at the University of Copenhagen can make a real difference. The tool helps children understand their emotions, put them into words and make tangible changes that improve their everyday life.
"When parents divorce, it is often the first major negative life event a child experiences. Some children struggle psychologically or develop school refusal, and many need support to get back on track," says Gert Martin Hald, psychologist and professor at the Department of Public Health and co-founder of the digital platform SES NXT.
Digital support designed for children
SES NXT is a digital intervention for children aged 3 to 17. It consists of a series of modules that children work through at their own pace, tailored to their age and individual needs.
- SES NXT is a platform designed to help children and parents better manage divorce.
- It was developed by SES Family, a company originating from a PhD project by Søren Sander at the Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Gert Martin Hald.
- SES Family received the University of Copenhagen Innovation Award in 2019.
- SES NXT is used in 16 municipalities in Denmark and 111 municipalities across Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
- Around 1,700 children in Denmark have used SES NXT.
The modules include videos and exercises on topics such as coping when parents argue, understanding one's emotions, blended families and living in two homes. Children also hear other children share their own experiences of divorce.
The content is age-specific. The younger the child, the more the platform involves parents, helping to strengthen communication within the family.
"Children experience that their feelings are normalised. It is okay to feel sad or scared. At the same time, the exercises are very concrete, which many children need. They provide clear suggestions, for example about what children can say to their parents when conflicts arise," says Gert Martin Hald.
The platform builds on research into divorce and child wellbeing. It is also informed by input from social workers and psychologists who work daily with children affected by parental conflict. This ensures that the solution addresses real needs and challenges.
Fewer problems and better social relationships
The study included 866 children and young people aged 3 to 17. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups where one group received access to SES NXT, while the control group only gained access after the study ended. Researchers measured wellbeing at the start of the study and again after 4 and 12 weeks.
After 12 weeks, children who used the digital self-help tool were doing significantly better than those in the control group. They reported fewer emotional problems such as sadness and worry, fewer behavioural difficulties, better social relationships, improved concentration and more prosocial behaviour.
Almost half of the children using SES NXT moved from poor wellbeing to normal levels. In the control group, this applied to only around one in ten children. Such results are unusually strong for psychological interventions.
"They experience fewer problems in their daily lives, and those problems affect them less," says Gert Martin Hald.
Children who completed more modules saw greater improvements.
The findings are supported by a separate recent study showing that SES NXT also reduces conflict between parents after divorce.
"In divorce research, parental conflict is the holy grail. We know that it is the single most important factor in whether families go on to thrive. That is why solutions that reduce conflict between former partners are so important," says Gert Martin Hald.
Municipality: A highly useful tool
SES NXT is already in use in 16 Danish municipalities. Municipalities in Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland have also adopted the platform.
In Næstved Municipality, SES NXT is used both in group-based work with children of divorce and as an individual offer.
"It is a highly useful tool," says Niels Rask, who works with divorce support for children in Næstved Municipality.
"The modules focus on children's emotions, and we find that children and parents develop a shared language that makes it easier to talk about difficult issues."
For the municipality, a key advantage is that the platform makes it possible to reach many children, including those who might not otherwise receive support.
"Our schools and childcare institutions are the first to notice when divorce affects children socially, psychologically or academically. With this tool, we can intervene quickly with support that we know improves wellbeing," says Niels Rask.
Despite the positive results, Gert Martin Hald emphasises that digital solutions cannot stand alone in all cases but can serve as an important supplement to existing services.
"It is not some magic pill that works for everyone. Digital solutions can reach many children and reduce the need for further follow-up, but some children and families need more intensive, personal support," he says.
About the study
- The study about the effects on the wellbeing of children of divorce is published in the renowned journal NPJ Digital Medicine
- The study about the effects on the level of family conflict is published in Journal of Family Psychology
- Since two of the authors of the study, Gert Martin Hald and Søren Sander, own the platform SES Family,
they have not been involved in the management or analysis of the data to avoid conflict of interest.
