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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
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Mental Health in Schoolchildren in Joint Physical Custody: A Longitudinal Study

Anders Hjern1,2, Stine Kjaer Urhoj3, Emma Fransson4

  • 1Centre for Health Equity Studies, Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Family Studies
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Parental separation impacts child mental health.
  • Understanding post-separation living arrangements is crucial.
  • Previous research shows varied outcomes for children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between living arrangements post-parental separation and child mental health.
  • To compare mental health outcomes in children with joint physical custody versus sole physical custody.
  • To identify factors influencing mental health in children after parental separation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Danish National Birth Cohort (31,519 children).
  • Assessed child mental health using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at age 11.
  • Employed logistic and linear regression, controlling for parental and early childhood factors.

Main Results:

  • Children in nuclear families had the lowest SDQ scores (8.9%).
  • Among separated children, joint physical custody showed lower odds of high SDQ scores (OR 1.25) compared to nuclear families.
  • Sole physical custody (with or without a new partner) was associated with significantly higher odds of high SDQ scores (ORs 1.63, 1.72).

Conclusions:

  • Joint physical custody is linked to more favorable child mental health outcomes post-separation.
  • Sole physical custody arrangements are associated with poorer mental health in children.
  • Living arrangements significantly influence children's psychological well-being after parental separation.

Keywords:
childdivorcejoint physical custodyparental separationsocial determinantssocioeconomic

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