Title: Children Denied Two Parents

Publication: Journal of Divorce & Remarriage

Authors: Lynda Fox Fields,Beverly W. Mussetter ACSW & Gerald T. Powers PhD

Link: https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v28n01_05

Summary: “Noncustodial parents are often denied access to their children on the grounds that they have failed to comply with court mandated child support payments. This study explores the experiences of a group of noncustodial fathers, many of whom report that access to their children was denied despite the fact that their child support obligations could be confirmed by means of voluntary, automatic Electronic Fund Transfer handled directly through local banking institutions. The article calls for a number of legal reforms designed to protect the rights of noncustodial parents and assure that children have access to both parents.”.

Family Reunion Comment: This study investigates the experiences of noncustodial fathers who have been denied access to their children, even when they have fulfilled their court-mandated child support payments through voluntary electronic fund transfers. Many of these fathers report facing obstacles in accessing their children, despite having clear evidence of their financial responsibilities being met. The article highlights the need for legal reforms that prioritize the rights of noncustodial parents and ensure that children have access to both parents. 

Title: Latent Profiles of Postdivorce Parenting Time, Conflict, and Quality: Children’s Adjustment Associations

Publication: Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association

Authors: Kit K. Elam, Irwin Sandler, Sharlene A. Wolchik, Jenn-Yun Tein, and Adam Rogers

Link: https://doi.org/10.1037%2Ffam0000484 

Summary: This study explores the complex relationships between parenting time, interparental conflict, quality of parenting, and child adjustment outcomes after divorce. Through latent profile analysis, separate profiles of mothers and fathers were identified based on their parenting time, interparental conflict, and quality of parenting. The study found that profiles characterized by greater parenting time and lower quality of parenting were associated with the poorest child outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of considering both the quantity and quality of parenting in post-divorce family environments when assessing child adjustment.

Family Reunion Comment: Profiles characterized by higher parenting time and lower quality of parenting were associated with poorer child outcomes, highlighting the need for interventions and support systems that promote positive parenting practices after divorce.

Title: Parenting time, parenting quality, interparental conflict, and mental health problems of children in high-conflict divorce

Publication: J Fam Psychol

Authors: Karey L O’Hara, Irwin N Sandler, Sharlene A Wolchik, Jenn-Yun Tein, C Aubrey Rhodes

Link: https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000556 

Summary: This study looks at how the time parents spend with their children, the quality of parenting, and conflicts between parents affect children’s mental health in divorced or separated families. The researchers found that when fathers spent more time with their children and had better parenting quality, it was associated with fewer mental health problems in the children. However, conflicts between parents did not have a significant impact. The study also showed that there is a limit to how much time fathers can spend with their children before it no longer improves their relationship. These findings highlight the importance of considering both parenting time and quality in supporting children’s well-being after divorce or separation.

Family Reunion Comment: The amount of time parents spend with their children and the quality of their parenting are important factors for children’s mental health in divorced or separated families.

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

Publication: BMJ paediatrics open

Authors: Malin Bergström , Raziye Salari, Anders Hjern, Robin Hognäs, Kersti Bergqvist, Emma Fransson

Link: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000657

Summary: This study looked at how preschoolers’ mental health following parental separation was affected by their living situations and the quality of their coparenting. The results showed that while children with joint physical custody (JPC) did not significantly differ from those in intact families, children with sole or primary residence with one parent had more mental health issues. The disparities between living arrangements, however, diminished when co parenting quality was taken into account, and kids from intact families had more mental health issues than kids from JPC. The study recommended focusing preventive interventions on coparenting quality as it is crucial for preschool children’s mental health.

Family Reunion Comment: After parental separation, the standard of coparenting and the living situation have a big impact on the mental health of the kids. Parental time denial, in which one parent limits or refuses the other parent access to the kid, may have a negative effect on the wellbeing of the child and the coparenting relationship. The study emphasizes the value of taking into account cooperative coparenting and equitable living arrangements to promote good outcomes for children following separation or divorce, even though it does not expressly address parental time denial.

Title: Coparenting as a mediator between physical custody arrangements and children’s mental health

Publication: Family process

Authors: Anja Steinbach

Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12844

Summary: The wellbeing of children under joint physical custody (JPC) and sole physical custody (SPC) arrangements following their parents’ divorce was examined in this study. Children in JPC families had greater mental health than those in SPC households, according to the study, and this difference could be fully explained by the presence of supportive coparenting. Only internalizing and externalizing behaviors, not prosocial conduct, were found to be affected by this, though. The results emphasize the value of supporting parents in creating healthy coparenting relationships to enhance their children’s wellbeing following separation or divorce. Coparenting counseling or educational initiatives may be involved in this.

Family Reunion Comment: Both joint physical custody (JPC) and sole physical custody (SPC) arrangements were proven to benefit children’s mental health when supportive coparenting was practiced. Parental time denial might prevent or inhibit the development of a supportive coparenting relationship, which could have an effect on the wellbeing of the kids.