scholarly journals Child living arrangements following separation and mental health of parents in Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Fritzell ◽  
M Gähler ◽  
E Fransson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Single Mothers ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Nuclear Family ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Interaction Effects ◽  
Vulnerable Group ◽  
Sole Custody ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
Physical Custody

Abstract Background Father involvement and joint physical custody in post-separation families have become increasingly common. In Sweden, 35 percent of the children of separated parents live equally much with both parents. The associations between child living arrangement and parental health may vary between women and men. This study analyzes the association between children’s living arrangement and mental health of parents, and how this interacts with material and social circumstances. Methods Drawing on The Swedish Survey of Living Conditions (ULF) 2008-2013, the association between child living arrangements and mental health (worry/anxiety) of parents in four family structures: nuclear, reconstituted, single with joint physical custody, and single with main or sole custody, were analyzed. Data on 9,225 mothers and fathers with resident children aged 0-17 were analyzed by logistic regressions for average marginal effects adjusting for socio-demographic, socio-economic and social factors. Analyses of interaction effects were made using the synergy index. Results Substantial family type differences were found in mental health between nuclear family and all other family types for mothers, and nuclear family and single parents for fathers. For the single mothers, the higher risk for worry and anxiety was reduced following controls for socioeconomic factors. Interaction effects were found for the combination of single motherhood and non-employment, causing a higher risk of mental health problems for single mothers, both with joint (SI 5.25 (2.06-13.39)) and sole custody (SI 1.70 (1.11-2.62)), than would be expected from a simple addition of these exposures, indicating that this is a vulnerable group. Conclusions The results indicate that joint custody is associated with higher risk for worry and anxiety for the parents, especially for mothers, both re-partnered and single, but also for single fathers. Key messages Shared residence is associated with higher risk for worry and anxiety in parents. Single mothers lacking employment is a particularly vulnerable group.

scholarly journals Mental Health in Schoolchildren in Joint Physical Custody: A Longitudinal Study

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 473
Author(s):  
Anders Hjern ◽  
Stine Kjaer Urhoj ◽  
Emma Fransson ◽  
Malin Bergström
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Nuclear Family ◽  
Parental Separation ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Maternal Report ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
Physical Custody ◽  
Custody Arrangements

This study investigated mental health in schoolchildren in different living arrangements after parental separation. The study population included 31,519 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, followed-up at age 11 in 2010–2014. Child mental health was measured with a maternal report of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between living arrangements and mental health were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models, taking into account early childhood indicators of the parents’ relations, income, education and psychiatric care. At age 11, children living in a nuclear family had the lowest rate of total SDQ score, 8.9%. Of the children who had experienced parental separation, children in joint physical custody had the lowest adjusted odds ratio (OR)1.25 (95%-CI 1.09–1.44), for a high SDQ score relative to children living in a nuclear family, with adjusted ORs of 1.63 (1.42–1.86) and OR 1.72 (1.52–1.95) for sole physical custody arrangements with and without a new partner. An analysis of change in SDQ scores between ages 7 and 11 in children showed a similar pattern. This study indicates that joint physical custody is associated with slightly more favorable mental health in schoolchildren after parental separation than sole physical custody arrangements.

Is joint physical custody in the best interests of the child? Parent–child relationships and custodial arrangements

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 3752-3772
Author(s):  
Kim Bastaits ◽  
Inge Pasteels
Keyword(s):  
Best Interests ◽  
Parent Child Relationship ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Child Relationship ◽  
Sole Custody ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
Parent Child Relationships ◽  
Maternal Custody ◽  
Physical Custody ◽  
Parent Child

When thinking about custodial arrangements after a divorce, there has been a shift from sole custody (mainly by mothers) to joint physical custody after a divorce. In certain countries, joint physical custody has even become the primary, legal custodial arrangement. Joint physical custody, whether implemented in legislation or not, is believed to be in the best interests of the child, as children can shape a postdivorce relationship with both their mother and father. Nevertheless, many studies on joint physical custody focus only on child outcomes. This study aims to investigate (1) whether custodial arrangements matter in addition to the parental divorce for parent–child relationships and (2) whether joint physical custody provides a better framework for parent–child relationships than sole custody arrangements. The study adds to the existing literature by including both the mother–child relationship and the father–child relationship. Moreover, joint physical custody is not only compared to sole maternal custody, but also to sole paternal custody. Using a dyadic subsample of Belgian parents and children from the Divorce in Flanders data set ( N = 623), we compare two indicators of the parent–child relationship (parent–child communication and parenting) for children with married parents, with children in joint physical custody, sole maternal custody, and sole paternal custody. The results indicate that (1) the custodial arrangements after divorce affect parent–child relationships, in addition to the divorce, with regard to both open and problematic father–child communications and the support and control of children by mothers and fathers; and (2) joint physical custody, compared with sole custody (either by the mother or father), provides a better framework to shape a postdivorce parent–child relationship with both parents in terms of open communications and support.

Self-esteem in children in joint physical custody and other living arrangements

Public Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
pp. 106-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Turunen ◽  
E. Fransson ◽  
M. Bergström
Keyword(s):  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
Physical Custody

scholarly journals The relation between joint physical custody, interparental conflict, and children's mental health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Augustijn
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Interparental Conflict ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Physical Custody ◽  
Custody Arrangements

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between joint physical custody and children’s mental health, and tested whether interparental conflict moderated the association. Background: Joint physical custody is an emerging post-separation care arrangement that is expected to counter the negative effects of family dissolution on children’s overall well-being. There is, however, substantial disagreement about the impact that joint physical custody may have on children’s mental health when interparental conflict is high. Method: The statistical analysis was based on data from the Family Models in Germany (FAMOD) study, which was conducted in 2019. The analytical sample consisted of 1,087 post-separation families practicing either sole physical custody or joint physical custody. Linear regression models were estimated to determine the relationship between physical custody arrangements, interparental conflict, and children’s mental health problems. Results: Living in a joint physical custody arrangement was positively related to children's mental health, whereas high levels of interparental conflict were negatively related to children's mental health. However, when levels of interparental conflict were high children in joint physical custody arrangements displayed levels of mental health problems that were quite similar to those of children in sole physical custody arrangements. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that joint physical custody is not a "one-size-fits-all model" that is suitable for all post-separation families, and that it is only beneficial for children's mental health when interparental conflict is low.

scholarly journals Children with two homes: Psychological problems in relation to living arrangements in Nordic 2- to 9-year-olds

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Bergström ◽  
Emma Fransson ◽  
Michael B. Wells ◽  
Lennart Köhler ◽  
Anders Hjern
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Nuclear Families ◽  
Intact Families ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
Physical Custody

Aim: Joint physical custody, children spending equal time in each parents’ respective home after a parental divorce, is particularly common in Nordic compared with other Western countries. Older children have been shown to fare well in this practice but for young children there are few existing studies. The aim of this paper is to study psychological problems in 2- to 9-year-old Nordic children in different family forms. Methods: Total symptom score according to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as well as scores showing externalizing problems were compared among 152 children in joint physical custody, 303 in single care and 3207 in nuclear families through multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Children in single care had more psychological symptoms than those in joint physical custody (B = 1.08; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.67) and those in nuclear families had the least reported symptoms (B = −0.53; 95% CI −0.89 to −0.17). Externalizing problems were also lower in nuclear families (B = −0.28, 95% CI −0.52 to −0.04) compared with joint physical custody after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: Young children with non-cohabiting parents suffered from more psychological problems than those in intact families. Children in joint physical custody had a lower total problem score than those in single care after adjusting for covariates. Longitudinal studies with information on family factors before the separation are needed to inform policy of young children’s post-separation living arrangements.

scholarly journals Living arrangements and social support as predictors of mental health and life satisfaction of older adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Chhanda Karmaker ◽  
Afroza Hossain ◽  
Fariea Bakul ◽  
Sumaia Ali Raisa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether living arrangement and social support are significant predictors of mental health and life satisfaction among older adults. Data were collected by using convenience sampling technique from 300 older adults (100 living in old home and 200 living in their own home with spouse or children) of Dhaka and Gazipur districts. The instruments used for collecting data were: (1) Demographic and personal information questionnaire, (2) Bangla version of Social Support Scale, (3) Bangla version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and (4) Bangla version of Satisfaction with life scale. The results of the current study indicated that the type of living arrangement has the most influence towards mental health (29.05%) and life satisfaction (30.91%) than social support. Older adults who live in own home have higher life satisfaction (M = 25.86) and less mental health problems (M = 32.55) than those living in old home (M = 17.78) and (M = 39.80). The result also revealed that older people living in old homes have higher social support (M = 51.73) than those who are living with children, spouses or other family relatives (M = 48.02)). Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 27(1): 17-25, 2018 (January)

Verblijfsregelingen en welbevinden van kinderen : Verschillen naar gezinskenmerken

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
An Katrien Sodermans ◽  
Sofie Vanassche ◽  
Koen Matthijs
Keyword(s):  
Parent Child Relationship ◽  
Child Relationship ◽  
The Family ◽  
Sole Custody ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Physical Custody ◽  
Parent Child ◽  
Custody Arrangements

Sinds 2006 werd het verblijfsco‐ouderschap na scheiding als voorkeursregeling opgenomen in de Belgische wet.Buitenlands onderzoek toonde aan dat kinderen doorgaans een hoger welbevinden vertonen in verblijfsco‐ouderschap dan in een eenouderverblijf. Deze studie onderzocht de relatie tussen de verblijfsregeling van 707Vlaamse kinderen tussen 10 en 21 jaar oud en hun subjectief welbevinden. Daarbij werd ook de rol van drie ge‐zinskenmerken bestudeerd: ouderlijk conflict, de ouder‐kindrelatie en de aanwezigheid van stiefouders. De datavan het ‘Scheiding in Vlaanderen’ onderzoek werden gebruikt. Er waren geen verschillen in subjectief welbevin‐den naargelang de verblijfsregeling van kinderen, onder controle van socio‐economische en demografische ach‐tergrondkenmerken. Bovendien was er geen modererende invloed van de drie gezinskenmerken op de relatietussen verblijfsregeling en subjectief welbevinden. Verblijfsco‐ouderschap lijkt een betere relatie tussen het kinden beide ouders te faciliteren in vergelijking met een eenouderverblijf. In verblijfsco‐ouderschap is er gemiddeldgenomen iets meer ouderlijk conflict dan in een eenouderverblijf, maar dit blijft beperkt tot een niveau dat nietschadelijk is voor het welbevinden. Abstract : Since 2006, a legal recommendation for joint physical custody in included in the Belgian custody law.Earlier research showed that children in joint physical custody have in general better outcomes thanchildren in sole custody arrangements. This study examines the association between joint physicalcustody and adolescent wellbeing and whether this relationship is conditioned by the degree of pa‐rental conflict, the quality of the parent‐child relationship and the complexity of the family configura‐tion of mother and father. We use from the Divorce in Flanders survey, and we have information on707 children between 10 and 21 years old with divorced parents. Overall, the subjective wellbeing ofchildren in joint physical custody was similar to that of children in other custody arrangements. Wefound no support for moderating effects of parental conflict, quality of the relationship with motherand father, and the presence of a new partner in the parental households. Joint physical custodyseems to facilitate a better parent‐child relationship with both parents when compared to sole cus‐tody. In joint physical custody, parents have more occasional conflicts, but this is limited to a levelthat is not harmful for children.

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