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.

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 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’s Experiences of Stress in Joint Physical Custody

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Augustijn
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Family Dissolution ◽  
Care Arrangement ◽  
The Family ◽  
Joint Physical Custody ◽  
Physical Custody ◽  
Custody Arrangements

Abstract Background Joint physical custody is a parental care arrangement in which children live roughly an equal amount of time with each parent after family dissolution, residing alternately in each of the two parental households. Because joint physical custody is characterised by fathers’ continued involvement in their children’s lives, this care arrangement is believed to compensate for the negative effects of family dissolution, and to contribute to children’s well-being in post-separation families. Objective This study aims to investigate potential differences in the experiences of stress of children living in joint physical custody and sole physical custody arrangements, while considering both the proportion of time the children spend with each of their parents and the number of transitions the children make between the parental households. Methods Based on data from the Family Models in Germany (FAMOD) study, a national convenience sample, linear regression models were estimated for 297 children between the ages of 11 and 14. Results The statistical analysis suggests that there was no significant association between the physical custody type (sole physical custody vs. joint physical custody) and the children’s levels of stress. In addition, the results revealed that children’s experiences of stress did not depend on how often they moved between their parents’ households. Conclusions This study does not corroborate the assumption that joint physical custody has a protective effect on children, but instead suggests that different physical custody arrangements are associated with different stressors that lead to similar levels of stress in children living in different post-separation families.

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 Importance of living arrangements and coparenting quality for young children’s mental health after parental divorce: a cross-sectional parental survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000657
Author(s):  
Malin Bergström ◽  
Raziye Salari ◽  
Anders Hjern ◽  
Robin Hognäs ◽  
Kersti Bergqvist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Child Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Parental Separation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intact Families

BackgroundParental separation has been associated with adverse child mental health outcomes in the literature. For school-aged children, joint physical custody (JPC), that is, spending equal time in both parents’ homes after a divorce, has been associated with better health and well-being than single care arrangements. Preschool children’s well-being in JPC is less studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of living arrangements and coparenting quality with mental health in preschool children after parental separation.MethodsThis cross-sectional population-based study includes 12 845 three-year-old children in Sweden. Mental health was measured by parental reports of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and coparenting quality with a four-item scale. The living arrangements of the 642 children in non-intact families were categorised into JPC, living mostly with one parent and living only with one parent.ResultsLinear regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic confounders, showed an association between increased mental health problems and living mostly and only with one parent (B=1.18; 95% CI 0.37 to 2.00, and B=1.20; 95% CI 0.40 to 2.00, respectively), while children in intact families vs JPC did not differ significantly (B=−0.11; 95% CI −0.58 to 0.36). After adjusting the analyses for coparenting quality, differences in child mental health between the post divorce living arrangements were, however, minimal while children in intact families had more mental health problems compared with JPC (B=0.70; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.15). Factorial analysis of covariance revealed that low coparenting quality was more strongly related to mental health problems for children in intact families and JPC compared with children living mostly or only with one parent.ConclusionsThis study suggests that coparenting quality is a key determinant of mental health in preschool children and thus should be targeted in preventive interventions.

scholarly journals Shared Physical Custody After Parental Separation: Evidence from Germany

2021 ◽  
pp. 285-308
Author(s):  
Sabine Walper ◽  
Christine Entleitner-Phleps ◽  
Alexandra N. Langmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Parental Separation ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Maternal Report ◽  
Parental Roles ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Shared Parenting ◽  
Independent Effects ◽  
Overnight Stays ◽  
Physical Custody

AbstractMultilocal, dual residence or shared parenting arrangements after parental separation are increasingly discussed in many countries because they seem best suited to allow for more equally shared parental roles and children’s equal access to both (biological) parents. So far, there is little information about shared physical custody in Germany. The present research uses the second wave from a large German survey “Growing up in Germany” (2013–2015) to investigate the prevalence, preconditions, as well as possible outcomes of shared physical custody after separation. The sample comprises 1042 children (below age 18) with separated parents (maternal report). Measured by children’s overnight stays with each parent, less than 5% of these children lived in a dual residence arrangement (50:50 up to 60:40% of time with either parent). Shared physical custody was more likely if maternal and paternal residence were in close proximity, and if the mother had higher levels of education. As expected, shared physical custody was more likely if the parents had a positive cooperative (co-parenting) relationship while co-parenting problems did not seem to have independent effects. The findings are discussed with respect to other research addressing issues of self-selection into different parenting arrangements and the still limited role of shared physical custody in Germany in facilitating more equal gender roles.

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.

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