Shared Physical Custody Research Articles

Taking shared parenting seriously: a comparative study of how family policies accommodate shared physical custody in post-separation households

Shared physical custody (SPC) is a care arrangement following parental separation, whereby children alternatively reside with their mother and father. Very little is known about how family policies accommodate SPC, which is all the more unfortunate, as it represents a key opportunity to understand how family policies can efficiently facilitate shared parenting. To address this gap, this article presents a modest attempt at designing a new comparative family policy approach that considers SPC arrangements, by examining the extent to which Belgian, French and Italian family policies accommodate a more equal sharing of parenting post-divorce. In so doing, we encourage studies of defamilialization to take better account of the diversity of contemporary family forms. The theoretical section traces back key feminist debates around defamilialization and proposes to consider SPC arrangements as an ‘atypical’ family configuration that best illustrates contemporary tensions around defamilialization and gender equality. It also takes stock of the few studies of family policy and SPC to highlight key issues at stake. The analysis section starts with the main characteristics of the family law, welfare regime and family policies of the three countries. Then, we examine a selection of emblematic and national-level family policies from the following areas: (1) Family benefits; (2) Financial support to access to services; and (3) Tax measures. Our comparison focuses on three main criteria: scope; entitlement; and shareability of benefits between parents in the context of SPC. Our analysis reveals the variety of approaches to SPC in family polices across countries and policy areas, and the significant lack of support for a more equitable distribution of parenting within SPC. We conclude by highlighting the usefulness of taking SPC into account in reflecting on and evaluating the implementation of defamilialization policies, and by identifying some of the challenges to be met by future research.

Shared Care and Mothers’ Post-separation Economic Wellbeing in Finland and Wisconsin, US: Does Child Support and Sharing Child’s Costs Matter?

AbstractChildren’s post-separation living arrangements may have important implications for mothers’ economic wellbeing. This study examines self-reported economic wellbeing of mothers with shared versus sole physical custody (also known as shared care) of the child six or more years since separation, using unique survey data on separated parents in Finland (n = 850) and Wisconsin, US (n = 395) in 2019–2020. We use sequential logistic regression models to examine the pathways through which this association potentially occurs—child support and sharing of children’s expenses between parents—and whether the outcomes differ by the family policy contexts of Finland and Wisconsin. Our findings suggest that Wisconsin mothers in shared versus sole physical custody arrangements have significantly lower levels of economic hardship, that are fully explained by greater cost-sharing with the other parent of the child. No such relationship is evident in Finland, although cost-sharing is independently negatively associated with economic hardship of Finnish mothers. Findings highlight how fathers’ contributions as tied to children’s living arrangements matter for post-separation economic wellbeing of mothers, and have implications for shared physical custody and child support policy.

Child-perceived parental support and knowledge in shared physical custody and other living arrangements for children

Objective: The aim of this paper is to develop an understanding of how child-perceived parental support and knowledge among children in Sweden differ across ten forms of residential arrangement. Background: Shared physical custody has become an increasingly common arrangement for children in separated families in many European countries. In an international comparison, Sweden has a high rate of parental union dissolution but also the highest prevalence of shared physical custody arrangements following divorce or separation. Over a third of all children with divorced or separated parents spend an equal amount of time living in both parental households. Method: We used data from the Swedish HBSC survey from 2013/14, which are focused on children in grades 5, 7 and 9 in the Swedish comprehensive school system (n=7360) and used perceived parental support and perceived parental knowledge scales as dependent variables in multiple ordered logistic regressions conducted separately by the sex of the parent. Results: The results show that children in shared physical custody report higher levels of parental support and knowledge than children in sole physical custody and equally high as those who live in a two-parent family. Children living in non-symmetrical physical custody arrangements report lower levels of paternal support and knowledge than children whose parents share physical custody equally. Maternal support and knowledge does not differ between children living in symmetrical and non-symmetrical shared physical custody arrangements, whereas paternal support and knowledge is lower in families where the child lives in an unequal residential sharing arrangement with the mother as the main co-residential parent. Conclusion: Post-divorce living arrangements are clearly associated with the relationship between parents and children, with children in shared physical custody reporting stronger relationships than children in sole physical custody. The cross-sectional nature of the data prevents us from drawing conclusions on causality, however.

Families facing the Italian lockdown: Temporal adjustments and new caring practices in shared physical custody arrangements

Objective: This paper investigates the impact of the 2020 Covid-19 related Spring Lockdown in Italy on families practicing shared physical custody (SPC) arrangements for their children.
 Background: Those family configurations partly challenge the dominant 'mother as main carer model' that characterizes Italian society. Here, we consider the lockdown as a "challenge-trial" to analyze the strategies that these families have developed to cope with lockdown, and to reveal the overarching structures that contributed to shape this experience of lockdown.
 Method: We draw on semi-structured interviews with 19 parents (9 fathers and 10 mothers), part of 12 families practicing SPC.
 Results: We propose a typology of custody re-organizations during lockdown and how this affected the division of parental involvement based on a) change/no change in sleepover calendars in favor of mother/father; and b) similar/different arrangements for siblings – a new practice that emerged and also has implications for the division of childcare between parents. Four types are identified where we emphasize new parenting practices and the role played by material housing configurations, relations and tensions between family members, as well as balancing work, school and childcare.
 Conclusion: We highlight the usefulness of applying a "challenge-trial" lens to the study of family life under lockdown, and the need to complexify research on gender equality in shared parenting and on sibling relationships in post-divorce families.

Post-Separation Physical Custody Arrangements in Germany: Examining Sociodemographic Correlates, Parental Coparenting, and Child Adjustment

Most children continue to live with their mother after a divorce or separation, yet paternal involvement in post-separation families has increased substantially in many Western nations. This shift has contributed to a growing share and more diverse set of post-separation parents opting for shared physical custody (SPC), which typically means that children alternate between the parental residences for substantive amounts of time. Profiling the case of Germany, where no legal regulations facilitating SPC are implemented to date, we examine the prevalence of SPC families, sociodemographic correlates of SPC, and its associations with parental coparenting and child adjustment. Using representative survey data sampled in 2019 (N = 800 minors of 509 separated parents), results revealed that only 6–8% of children practiced SPC. SPC parents were more likely to hold tertiary levels of schooling and to report a better coparenting relationship with the other parent. There was no link between SPC and child adjustment, yet conflictual coparenting was linked to higher levels of hyperactivity among SPC children. We conclude that the social selection into SPC and linkages between conflictual coparenting and hyperactivity among SPC children likely stem from the higher costs and the constant level of communication between the ex-partners that SPC requires.

Why did children in shared physical custody had a better experience of the first lockdown? What lockdown teaches us about the singular temporalities of shared physical custody

Les premiers travaux réalisés sur les effets du confinement du printemps 2020 sur les enfants ont établi que ceux qui étaient en résidence alternée l’avaient mieux vécu que les autres. L’objectif de cet article est de comprendre pourquoi. À partir de l’enquête Sapris (Santé, perception, pratiques, relations et inégalités sociales pendant la crise Covid-19) et plus particulièrement du sous-échantillon des enfants âgés de 8-9 ans des cohortes Elfe et Epipage2, nous comparons les conséquences du confinement sur les enfants selon la structure familiale dans laquelle ils vivaient (famille nucléaire, monoparentale ou en résidence alternée). Continu dans les familles nucléaires, le temps familial est habituellement beaucoup plus fractionné entre les résidences des parents pour les enfants de familles séparées. Le confinement est venu transformer les expériences habituelles du temps familial pour les enfants, aussi bien dans son organisation que dans sa texture. Il a modifié leur cadre de vie ordinaire, en réorganisant leurs occupations au quotidien et en modifiant leurs relations avec leurs parents. En observant particulièrement les différences apparues entre les résidences alternées qui ont continué et celles qui ont été interrompues, nous montrons que si les mouvements réguliers des enfants ont pu constituer une respiration bienvenue pour les différents acteurs concernés, les alternances interrompues ont ouvert des espaces exceptionnels dans lesquels il a été possible de renouer avec des formes passées de continuité familiale.

Profiles of Maternal Well-Being in Germany: Do Post-Separation Physical Custody Arrangements Matter?

ABSTRACT A higher share of parents practices shared physical custody (SPC) upon separation and SPC parents tend to be better educated, more affluent, and less conflict-ridden. This could indicate that SPC parents may be buffered from disparities in well-being that were documented among other post-separation parents. Using latent profile analysis, we identified four distinct profiles of maternal well-being across different life domains. SPC mothers were indeed more likely to belong to a low-strain profile and less likely to belong to a high-strain profile compared to single mothers. We conclude that social disparities both among and between post-separation parents remain highly salient, despite trends toward growing diversity in family constellations, and discuss German welfare state characteristics that may foster these differences.

How do children and adolescents of separated parents sleep? An investigation of custody arrangements, sleep habits, sleep problems, and sleep duration in Sweden

ObjectivesAn increasing number of children and adolescents divide their time between their separated parents’ homes. Although marital conflict is disadvantageous for children's sleep, little is known about how children of separated parents sleep. The objective was to investigate the association between children's custody arrangements and sleep habits and sleep initiation difficulties. DesignCross sectional nationally representative samples of adolescents from the WHO study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) (n = 11,802). SettingSweden in 2013/2014 and 2017/2018. ParticipantsAdolescents in grades 5, 7, and 9 from Swedish compulsory comprehensive school. MeasurementsThe survey included questions on sleep behaviors including bedtime, wake-up time and frequency of sleep onset problems. The analysis methods used were ordinary least squares and logistic regression. ResultsThe results show differences by custody arrangement, but they are not uniform across the dependent variables. Children and adolescents in sole maternal custody were less likely to sleep as much as recommended (P < .001), more likely to have late bedtimes (P < .001), report sleep initiation difficulties (P < .01) and to report social jetlag between school mornings and weekends (P < .05) compared to those in 2-parent families. Shared physical custody was associated with a higher likelihood of late bedtimes (P < .05) and sleep initiation difficulties (P < .05) compared to those in 2-parent families, but not of sleeping less than recommended or reporting social jetlag. Less-than-equal sharing was generally associated with worse sleep than in 2-parent families. ConclusionsAs custody arrangements seem to be associated with sleep, it is important to understand the mechanisms behind the findings.

Changes in Legal Regulations, Parental Health and Well-Being, and Children’s Physical Custody Arrangements among Post-Separation Families in Switzerland

ABSTRACT This study examines the prevalence and socio-demographic profiles of post-separation parents practicing shared physical custody (SPC) in Switzerland, and its associations with parental health and well-being. We analyzed data from two samples of post-separation parents: one surveyed before and one shortly after family law changes facilitating parents’ access to SPC. In both samples, SPC parents represented only a small fraction and SPC was associated with parents’ higher education or less financial strain. SPC-health and -well-being linkages also varied by education. We conclude that prevailing gender-biased employment practices may counteract the broadened access to SPC by reinforcing more traditional sole custody models among less resourceful parents.

“Part‐Time Parent”: Mothering in the Context of Shared Physical Custody

ObjectiveThis qualitative study examined women's identities as mothers when sharing postdivorce physical custody of children.BackgroundThe increase in divorced parents sharing physical custody can create challenges, especially for women whose identity is manifested through the social position of mother. Although researchers have investigated children's outcomes in connection with shared physical custody, little is known regarding the effects of shared custody on women's identities as mothers.MethodA secondary analysis was conducted using interviews from a grounded theory study of 20 divorced women with shared physical custody arrangements.ResultsMothers resolved the cognitive dissonance they experienced upholding the competing values of being physically present for their child and supporting their child's relationship with their father by prioritizing the belief that their child should maintain relationships with both parents. The mothers found ways in which their part‐time parent role supported their mothering identity. They also experienced challenges and developed individual solutions to overcome the challenges.ConclusionThe ideology of intensive mothering may be changing, particularly for women who undergo divorce or separation. Mothers' beliefs that their children should maintain relationships with both parents overrides their desire to always be physically present for their children and decreases the time women enact their role as mothers.ImplicationsPractitioners are encouraged to guide mothers' adjustment to their custody arrangement and help them “redo” the ways they view their mother identity.

Children’s Living Arrangements after Marital and Cohabitation Dissolution in Europe

The rapid increase of the number of children being born in cohabitation appears to have an important impact on their lives, since they face a higher risk of parental breakup than children born in wedlock. This article aims to provide a cross-national overview of the living arrangements of children following breakup of cohabiting unions and to investigate whether the post-dissolution living arrangements differ between formerly cohabiting and married families. Analyzing the first wave of Generations and Gender Survey for 9 European countries shows that former cohabiters are not more or less likely to establish shared physical custody of their children than formerly married couples; however, formerly cohabiting fathers are somehow less likely to have sole custody of their children. The lower odds of sole-father custody among former cohabiters are caused by the selection of individuals into cohabiting unions (i.e., different demographic characteristics of cohabiting parents and union duration).

Custody arrangements and social inequalities among children

The recent concentration of divorce and separation among the least advantaged, and the increase in shared physical custody of children raises the question of how such family developments affect social inequalities among children. Our paper contributes to this debate by examining the moderating role of parental socioeconomic background in the relationship between children’s health and well-being and child custody arrangements. From the Spanish ‘Health Behaviour in School-aged Children’ survey, we test the competing compensatory and floor effect hypotheses, distinguishing the separate effects of father’s and mother’s education and occupation on multiple children outcomes, such as psychological complaints and life satisfaction. Our results indicate that growing up in a “non-intact” family still has greater negative consequences for disadvantaged children, and that social inequalities in child health and well-being after separation persist in contemporary Spain.

Preface to the Special Issue: Shared Physical Custody: Recent Research, Advances, and Applications

Preface to the Special Issue: Shared Physical Custody: Recent Research, Advances, and Applications

Shared Physical Custody: What Can We Learn From Australian Law Reform?

ABSTRACTThis article reviews the long battle to reform Australia’s custody and access laws between 1995 and 2011. The result is a law which strongly encourages courts to consider the option of shared physical custody, while also emphasizing the need to protect children from harm, not least from being exposed to family violence. The trench warfare over the text of the legislation between advocacy groups has now largely ceased. Good empirical research on the outcomes of reforms to the family law system assisted in clarifying the issues. However, the role of law in shaping parenting arrangements after separation should not be exaggerated. We can believe too much in law; and therefore, believe too much in law reform.

Arguments Against a Presumption of Shared Physical Custody in Family Law

ABSTRACTThe introduction of the “best interests of the child” standard as a legal presumption in family law in the 1970s signaled an important transition away from a maternal preference standard in child custody disputes, toward a recognition of the centrality and importance of both parents in the lives of children after parental separation. Paradoxically, this reform resulted in an increase rather than decrease in court-determined maternal sole custody. Despite robust empirical evidence in support of shared parenting, a gender convergence in child care roles, and increasing public support for shared parenting, the idea of shared parenting as a legal presumption has been met with skepticism and resistance among some legal and mental health professionals. This article traces the evolution of arguments against shared parenting since the concept was first introduced, from the early 1970s until the present day.

Une politique familiale à petits pas. Normalisation de la garde partagée au Québec

Developing family policy bit-by-bit. The normalisation of shared custody in Quebec. In contemporary society there is a declining reliance on the law to determine the normative orientation of family policy. Instead, the law guarantees the management of a process for the joint construction of norms. In some cases, recourse to legal procedures or legislation is even ruled out. This is the case in Quebec with the de facto presumption of shared physical custody, which was gradually established through administrative and professional channels and with the help of certain case law. This article explores the way in which this new norm on family policy is based on an ideal of symmetry in parental custody, which is now presented both as necessary for the child’s well-being and as the foundation for equality between the sexes.

"" 919/15, 1709 ' - ,BR&lt;br&gt;F.A.R. 1709, 919/15 Anonymous - Presentation and Analysis

תקציר בעברית: מסמך זה מציג בקצרה ניתוח של צוות מרכז רקמן לקידום מעמד האשה את פסהד התקדימי של ביהמש העליון מיולי 2017, בעם 919/15, 1709, שעסק בשאלת חלוקת נטל מזונות הילדים בין האב לאם, כאשר הילדים שוהים במשמורת פיזית משותפת, וכאשר הכנסות ההורים שקולות. במסמך מוצגת הבנתנו את הרציו של פסהד, וכן התפישות המשמעותיות המובעות בפסהד לצידו. במסמך גם מובאת טבלה המרכזת את השורות התחתונות של כל אחד משופטי/ות ההרכב בשאלות המרכזיות. English Abstract: This document presents the Rackman Center's analysis of the Supreme' Court's precedential holding from July 2017, in F.A.R. 1709, 919/15, Anonymous, which discussed the parent's duty to share child support when children are in shared physical custody and the parent's incomes are about equal.

Shared Physical Custody and Children’s Experience of Stress

ABSTRACTThis article studies shared physical custody in Sweden, the country in the world where the phenomenon is most prevalent. We ask whether children in shared physical custody settings are more likely to report high levels of stress compared to children living in sole custody. The analysis is based on data with combined information from parents, children, and administrative registers. The models are controlled control for interparental as well as parent–child relationship quality and parents’ income. The results show that children sharing residence equally have lower likelihood of experiencing high levels of stress. The results can be interpreted as evidence for a positive effect of continuing everyday-like parental relationships after a family dissolution.

Shared Physical Custody: Summary of 40 Studies on Outcomes for Children

One of the most complex and compelling issues confronting policymakers, parents, and professionals involved in making custody decisions is this: What type of parenting plan is most beneficial for the children after their parents separate? More specifically, are the outcomes any better or worse for children who live with each parent at least 35% of the time compared to children who live primarily with their mother and spend less than 35% of the time living with their father? This article addresses this question by summarizing the 40 studies that have compared children in these two types of families during the past 25 years. Overall the children in shared parenting families had better outcomes on measures of emotional, behavioral, and psychological well-being, as well as better physical health and better relationships with their fathers and their mothers, benefits that remained even when there were high levels of conflict between their parents.

Transitioning to Postdivorce Family Life: A Grounded Theory Investigation of Resilience in Coparenting

Court‐ordered shared physical and legal custody has led to greater numbers of couples that must coparent following divorce. We conducted a grounded theory study to examine resilience processes in postdivorce coparenting. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews from 47 divorced mothers and fathers. The analysis revealed that successfully transitioning from married to divorced coparenting required intrapersonal changes (i.e., how participants thought and felt about their ex‐partners) as well as behavioral changes (e.g., avoiding conflict). Parents who reported focusing on children, regulating their emotional responses, and choosing battles about time and money were more effective than those who had difficulty letting go of divorce anger or engaged in frequent conflicts. Implications for parent educators and clinicians are discussed.