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Joint Custody: Are 2 Homes Better Than 1?

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Is Joint Custody better for your child?There has been a lot of talk recently about how important two parent households are to children’s well-being. But when divorce or separation is the best choice, is there anything you can do to make the situation better for your kids? Maybe you should consider joint custody.

A new study of Swedish students in grades 6 through 9 says that joint custody may be better for children than experts originally thought. It is generally thought that having one primary home helps children by providing them a sense of permanence and stability. But this study shows that, among children whose parents had divorced, two homes may be better than one.

The Study

The study surveyed students, asking them about their family arrangements and how often they experience psychosomatic health problems – symptoms that are connected to stress rather than any diagnosable illness. It placed children in four family-type categories:

  • Nuclear family – where both parents live together with the child in one home;
  • Joint custody – where the child spent about equal time with each parent;
  • Primary custody – where the child spent most of the time with one parent and some with the other; and
  • Sole custody – where the child only ever stayed with one parent.

Then the study looked at psychosomatic symptoms in each category. For example, 22 percent of children in sole custody and 19 percent of kids in primary custody experienced sleeping problems, as compared to 14 percent for joint custody children and 13 percent in nuclear families. Joint custody also fared well when it came to headaches, ranking just two percentage points (14%) above nuclear families (12%).

Should You Consider Joint Custody?

For parents going through a divorce, the decisions connected to child custody can be some of the hardest. If you are an involved parent, the idea that someone (who you may not like very much right now) will be taking your kids away from you for part of every week can be heartbreaking.

But the best thing you can do as a parent is to put your child’s best interests over your own. This study shows that sole and even primary custody can put a lot more stress on children than regular, meaningful time spent with both parents.

That is not to say that joint custody is appropriate in every situation. The Swedish study did not compare the level of conflict in the students’ homes. So it may be that the stress was caused by the parents’ relationship, rather than the custody arrangement. According to Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland in College Park:

“The joint custody arrangement may be an indicator of a less acrimonious relationship or breakup between the parents, which we would expect to have fewer negative consequences for the children in subsequent years than a more conflict filled family life.”

That’s why parents facing divorce need the guidance of a dedicated family law attorney. Lisa J. Schmidt with Schmidt Law Services, PLLC, has experience with the divorce process and post-judgement custody issues. She can help you look at your situation and decide what will be in your children’s best interest, even if it might not be what you want. If you are facing a custody decision, contact Schmidt Law Services for a consultation today.


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