Post-Separation Parenting Time Schedules in Joint Physical Custody Arrangements

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine patterns of parenting time schedules in joint physical custody (JPC) arrangements. Background: Although the importance of contact with the non-residential parent for children's well-being after family dissolution is well-documented, the measures used in surveys are often crude and do not capture the two dimensions of post-separation parenting time schedules: the proportion of time children spend with each parent and the number of transitions children make between parental homes. Method: The analyses are based on the Family Models in Germany study, a German sample of families with children aged 0–14 that was conducted in 2019. As this study includes a residential calendar capturing the children's stays with each parent over 4 weeks, it was possible to calculate both dimensions of post-separation parenting time schedules for 463 JPC families. Results: The results revealed that 55.5% of JPC families practiced an asymmetric (at least 30% with one parent) and 44.5% practiced a symmetric care arrangement (50% with each parent). The mean number of transitions children experienced was 9.5 within a month. The factors that were found to be positively associated with practicing symmetric JPC were working hours of the responding parent and parents' relationship quality. However, working hours of the responding parent and the distance between the parents' homes reduced the number of transitions between the parents' homes, whereas a good parental relationship increased them. Conclusion: Empirical investigations of children in post-separation families should take the two dimensions of physical custody into account.