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Does Shared Parenting Help or Hurt Children in High Conflict Divorced Families?
Nicole E Mahrer1, Karey O'Hara2, Irwin N Sandler2
1University of California, Los Angeles.
Journal of Divorce & Remarriage
|March 25, 2021
Summary
Shared parenting after divorce may harm child adjustment in high-conflict families long-term. However, this effect is less apparent when conflict is assessed during or shortly after divorce, or when parenting quality is high.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Family Law
- Sociology
Background:
- Divorce parenting time arrangements are shifting.
- Consensus on shared parenting effects in high-conflict families is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies on shared parenting and child adjustment in high-conflict divorced families.
- To propose research questions and methods to inform practice and policy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of eleven empirical studies.
- Analysis of relations between parenting time, parenting quality, and child adjustment.
- Examination of high-conflict divorced families.
Main Results:
- Higher shared parenting linked to poorer adjustment in long-term high-conflict samples.
- Effect less pronounced when conflict assessed during/shortly after divorce.
- Gender differences in shared parenting effects observed.
- High parenting quality by at least one parent associated with better adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Shared parenting impact on child adjustment in high-conflict divorce is complex and context-dependent.
- Parenting quality and timing of conflict assessment are crucial factors.
- Findings have implications for policy and practice in family law and child welfare.
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