“It is a matter of life or death”: spotlighting children in the context of HIPD as perceived by frontline practitioners

It is a wide consensus that high-intensity parental disputes (HIPD) might result in negative ramifications for children. The current study wishes to advance the knowledge regarding what children undergo during the acute time of the dispute, as portrayed by experienced frontline social workers mandated by the court to intervene with parents and their children in the context of HIPD. Ninety-four social workers participated in ten focus groups and five in-depth interviews. A thorough analysis of the narratives revealed three main themes. The first relates to their tremendous fear for the children’s wellbeing, often displayed by the words “burn” and “death.” The second theme addresses the practitioners’ reflections with respect to the various experiences the children undergo during the acute time of HIPD and their risk assessments. The third theme addresses the practitioners’ struggle in identifying how to protect the children during these times. The discussion spotlights the exposure of children to HIPD as a prolonged and chronic risk, with potentially adverse emotional and physical impacts. Key conclusions address the need to advance children’s rights and the protection of children in the context of HIPD.