TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental Health in Schoolchildren in Joint Physical Custody

T2 - A Longitudinal Study

AU - Hjern, Anders

AU - Urhoj, Stine Kjaer

AU - Fransson, Emma

AU - Bergstrom, Malin

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This study investigated mental health in schoolchildren in different living arrangements after parental separation. The study population included 31,519 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, followed-up at age 11 in 2010-2014. Child mental health was measured with a maternal report of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between living arrangements and mental health were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models, taking into account early childhood indicators of the parents' relations, income, education and psychiatric care. At age 11, children living in a nuclear family had the lowest rate of total SDQ score, 8.9%. Of the children who had experienced parental separation, children in joint physical custody had the lowest adjusted odds ratio (OR)1.25 (95%-CI 1.09-1.44), for a high SDQ score relative to children living in a nuclear family, with adjusted ORs of 1.63 (1.42-1.86) and OR 1.72 (1.52-1.95) for sole physical custody arrangements with and without a new partner. An analysis of change in SDQ scores between ages 7 and 11 in children showed a similar pattern. This study indicates that joint physical custody is associated with slightly more favorable mental health in schoolchildren after parental separation than sole physical custody arrangements.

AB - This study investigated mental health in schoolchildren in different living arrangements after parental separation. The study population included 31,519 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, followed-up at age 11 in 2010-2014. Child mental health was measured with a maternal report of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between living arrangements and mental health were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models, taking into account early childhood indicators of the parents' relations, income, education and psychiatric care. At age 11, children living in a nuclear family had the lowest rate of total SDQ score, 8.9%. Of the children who had experienced parental separation, children in joint physical custody had the lowest adjusted odds ratio (OR)1.25 (95%-CI 1.09-1.44), for a high SDQ score relative to children living in a nuclear family, with adjusted ORs of 1.63 (1.42-1.86) and OR 1.72 (1.52-1.95) for sole physical custody arrangements with and without a new partner. An analysis of change in SDQ scores between ages 7 and 11 in children showed a similar pattern. This study indicates that joint physical custody is associated with slightly more favorable mental health in schoolchildren after parental separation than sole physical custody arrangements.

KW - divorce

KW - parental separation

KW - socioeconomic

KW - social determinants

KW - child

KW - joint physical custody

KW - LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

KW - FAMILY-STRUCTURE

KW - CHILDREN

KW - DIVORCE

KW - STRENGTHS

KW - ADOLESCENTS

KW - BEHAVIOR

KW - ROLES

KW - AGE

U2 - 10.3390/children8060473

DO - 10.3390/children8060473

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34199778

VL - 8

JO - Children-Basel

JF - Children-Basel

IS - 6

M1 - 473

ER -