Joint Physical Custody in Europe: A Comparative Exploration

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Family Studies
• Demography

Background:

• Joint physical custody (JPC) is increasingly common in European countries.
• Comparative data on JPC prevalence and correlates are often inconsistent due to variations in methodology.
• The 2021 EU-SILC ad hoc module offers a standardized dataset for cross-European analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate and expand upon existing research on JPC prevalence across Europe.
• To analyze the correlates of JPC using a multi-level approach.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of JPC arrangements using harmonized data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the second release of the 2021 EU-SILC ad hoc module on Living arrangements and conditions of children in separated and blended families.
• Conducted a descriptive overview comparing shared versus sole/main residence arrangements.
• Employed a three-level linear mixed model to analyze child, parent/household, and country-level correlates of JPC.

Main Results:

• Confirmed the diversity of JPC prevalence across 21 European countries.
• Observed similar father-to-mother residence ratios in both high and low JPC incidence countries.
• Identified significant child, parent/household, and country-level factors associated with JPC.

Conclusions:

• The study underscores the importance of a multi-level perspective for understanding JPC correlates.
• Findings suggest that social and legal norms significantly influence custody arrangements.
• The EU-SILC module is a valuable tool for future cross-national comparisons of JPC.