Every year, a significant number of children in Denmark face the often traumatic experience of their parents’ divorce, an event that constitutes a profound upheaval in their young lives. Divorce is not merely a change in family structure; it can leave deep psychological scars, affecting children’s emotional stability, social functioning, and academic performance. In light of these challenges, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed an innovative digital intervention designed to mitigate these negative outcomes and support children’s mental health during this difficult transition.
The intervention, known as SES NXT, functions as a comprehensive digital platform aimed at children aged 3 to 17 who are coping with parental separation. Unlike traditional therapeutic methods that rely on extensive face-to-face interaction, SES NXT leverages modern technology to provide tailored, age-appropriate modules that children can navigate at their own pace. This approach not only increases accessibility but also empowers children to take an active role in understanding and managing their emotions.
SES NXT’s design is grounded in psychological theory and empirical research relating to the emotional and social consequences of divorce. The platform includes a series of multimedia resources such as interactive videos, exercises, and testimonials from peer children who have experienced similar family disruptions. These materials address a spectrum of relevant topics: managing parental conflict, recognizing and articulating emotions, adjusting to blended family dynamics, and adapting to living in two households.
A distinctive feature of SES NXT is its developmental sensitivity. For younger children, the platform encourages parental involvement to foster open communication and emotional expression within the family unit. This guided approach helps parents support their children’s emotional journeys in a more informed way. For adolescents, the content becomes more autonomous, focusing on self-regulation and pragmatic strategies for navigating the complex social realities posed by divorce.
The platform’s conceptual framework is augmented by continuous input from frontline professionals, including social workers and psychologists who have deep experience working with children affected by parental conflict. This collaborative design ensures that SES NXT addresses real-world challenges, enhancing its ecological validity and practical utility within diverse family contexts.
A large-scale randomized controlled trial involving 866 children and adolescents was conducted to rigorously evaluate the efficacy of the SES NXT intervention. Participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, with the former granted immediate access to the platform, while the latter received access only after the study concluded. Wellbeing assessments were conducted at baseline, as well as at four and twelve weeks post-intervention, to measure changes in emotional symptoms, behavioral issues, social relationships, and prosocial behavior.
The results were compelling. After a 12-week period, children who engaged with SES NXT exhibited significant improvements across multiple dimensions of mental health. Among the improvements reported were reductions in sadness and anxiety, fewer conduct problems, enhanced ability to concentrate, and better social integration. Notably, nearly 50% of the children in the intervention group transitioned from poor to normative levels of wellbeing, a striking contrast to only about 10% in the control group. These findings underscore the platform’s potential as a powerful tool for psychological intervention.
Further analysis revealed a dose-response relationship: children who completed more modules of SES NXT experienced greater benefits. This correlation highlights the importance of sustained engagement with the platform’s content to achieve meaningful progress. The intervention’s effect size is particularly noteworthy given the often persistent and complex nature of psychological difficulties faced by children of divorce.
In addition to its direct benefits for children, recent investigations indicate that SES NXT may also contribute to reducing conflict between divorced parents themselves. Since parental conflict is recognized as the principal determinant of post-divorce family functioning and child wellbeing, any intervention that effectively diminishes such conflict represents a significant advance in divorce-related support services.
The adoption of SES NXT has extended beyond its Danish origins, now reaching 16 municipalities within Denmark and 111 municipalities across the Nordic countries including Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Finland. Such widespread utilization testifies to its scalability and adaptability within different social welfare systems and cultural contexts.
Municipalities using SES NXT have reported positive feedback from both children and practitioners. For instance, in Næstved Municipality, the platform is integrated into group-based programs as well as offered individually, enabling broad outreach to children who might otherwise remain underserved. Practitioners emphasize the platform’s usefulness in creating a shared vocabulary between children and parents, facilitating discussions about feelings and conflicts that might have otherwise remained unspoken.
Despite the promising results, developers of SES NXT emphasize that digital interventions should be considered complementary rather than replacements for comprehensive care. While the tool can effectively reach many children and reduce the need for intensive follow-up, some families require more personalized and intensive psychological or social support that cannot be fully replicated through digital means.
SES NXT represents a pioneering step in harnessing digital technology for psychological support targeted specifically at children navigating the complexities of parental divorce. By combining cutting-edge research, professional expertise, and user-centered design, the platform is helping transform how we support vulnerable children in modern family contexts, offering hope for better emotional and social outcomes at a critical juncture in their development.
Subject of Research: Effects of digital intervention SES NXT on mental health and well-being in children experiencing parental divorce.
Article Title: Effects of the SES NXT intervention on mental health and well-being for children of divorce
News Publication Date: 21-Apr-2026
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-02638-x
Keywords: digital intervention, child mental health, parental divorce, psychological wellbeing, SES NXT, social relationships, behavioral difficulties, emotional support, child psychology, divorce research
