Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1997. / A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Differences between joint custody and mother custody families were assessed. The sample consisted of 42 post divorce families which had a child between the age of 4 and 15 years and resided in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This cross sectional, multimethod, quasi-experimental study examined two groups of divorced families. The experimental group consisting of 21 joint custody families, was compared to the control group, consisting of 21 mother custody families. Families were matched between the two groups based on the child's gender, age and time lapse since parental separation. Within each family, interviews were conducted with one parent and with the parent's permission, a target child. Besides the interview, parents completed a questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist. Only 19 parents gave permission for their child to be interviewed. Parents completed a questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist.

Separation and divorce have become normative life events for many families throughout the world. According to the most recent statistics, during 1998, a total of 35 792 divorces were granted in South Africa alone, resulting in 45 123 children being affected by the divorce of their parents (Statistics South Africa - Statistical Release PO 307). Children who best survive their parents divorce are those maintaining significant and positive relationships with both parents. Children whose parents share parenting also cope better with the consequences of divorce. This study therefore attempted to provide insight into the personal experiences of divorced parents in relation to sharing of parenting after divorce. In this qualitative study, the researcher used the snowballing technique of sampling. A total of 16 divorced parents, including eight mothers and eight fathers, were included in the sample. The sample comprised of custodial, noncustodial and joint custodial parents who had been divorced for a period of at least two years. The interview schedules were personally administered and manually analyzed by the researcher. From the main findings, it was ascertained that respondents experienced tremendous difficulties in coping with the aftermath of divorce more especially in the realm of co-parenting. The main challenges they have had to face were problems relating to access to children, conflict in post-divorce relationships, stress related to the remarriage of ex-spouses, lack of sharing of parental responsibilities, communication problems and lack of therapeutic support. In order to promote effective post-divorce parenting, the researcher made recommendations with regard to the provision of educational programmes and therapeutic services for parents, children and other interested parties affected by the divorce. Recommendations, pertaining to divorce, are also made in respect of the justice system in South Africa. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002.

Differences in family structure have been linked to several mental health outcomes, where children living in a nuclear family setting are best-off, while children in joint physical custody are second best followed by those living mostly and only with one parent. One of the biggest changes in recent years is that joint physical custody is growing more common. The dependent variables in this thesis were three dimensions of mental health from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Data from 6th and 9th graders in the entire Sweden 2009 was used. Regression modelling showed differences in mental health between the family structures throughout, although children in  joint physical custody was not significantly different from those in nuclear families (reference category) in half of the models. Children living mostly with one parent reported the third worst levels of problematic behaviour and prevalence of low prosocial behaviour while those living with just one parent were worst off. Stratifying by gender did reveal small coefficient differences and so did controls for birth region. This thesis, although in a line of other publications based on this study can help shape future guidelines for e.g. social workers.

Shared custody has risen to the fore as one of the most contentious issues facing family law justice systems. Ongoing efforts to implement or contemplate legislative reforms to prescribe a rebuttable presumption for shared custody have been central. Drawing on in-depth, retrospective qualitative interviews with 28 young adults between 18 and 25 years of age, this researcher conducted a thematic analysis and examined children’s perspectives and motivations regarding transitions into and out of shared custody, relationships with parents, and their sense of fairness around decision-making. The dissertation research is presented in a ‘publications format’ and contains an introduction, three self-contained journal-ready publications and an overarching discussion. The introduction provided an overall review of the literature and presented a developing model for tying together the complex strands of existing theoretical and empirical literature. Paper one focused how and why transitions into and out of shared custody happen. Drawing on the metaphor of alchemy, the analysis illustrated that shared custody is not a short-cut to a successful custodial arrangement or parent-child relations. Shared custody blends together complex interactions among elements related to the child’s living situation, maturation and changing notions of fairness, flexibility, the push and pull of relationships, and in some instances, rigid enforcement. The second paper highlighted how participants’ utilized the business strategy of “managing-up” and illustrated how children are active agents in navigating post-separation family relations finding ways to exert their agency to help and protect siblings, manage parental conflict, maintain shared custody to shield their parents and siblings from emotional hurt and initiate contact to maintain parent-child relationships. Including children’s voices in custodial decision-making is predicated on a rights-based doctrine that children ought to have input on decisions that affect their best interests. Participants felt that young children (13 years or less) should have input in how their arrangements were constructed, but not the final say about the type of custodial arrangement. There was general consensus that adolescents (about age 14), should have considerably more input. A final overarching discussion chapter integrated the three papers with the model presented in the introduction and suggests implications for policy and practice.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-79).

Este trabalho investigou o instituto da guarda compartilhada, a partir de uma revisão de literatura e dois estudos empíricos. No primeiro estudo empírico, realizou-se um estudo de caso coletivo com onze operadores do Direito do Rio Grande do Sul. Buscou-se investigar a perspectiva desses profissionais sobre a guarda compartilhada, a partir de sua prática. Os resultados indicaram que a guarda compartilhada parece ser o modelo que melhor atende aos interesses da criança, por considerar a participação conjunta dos genitores, embora ainda seja considerada polêmica quando há litígio entre os pais. No segundo estudo empírico, foi realizado um estudo de casos coletivos com quatro famílias que optaram pela guarda compartilhada. As díades parentais responderam a uma entrevista semiestruturada baseada na literatura e no Modelo da Estrutura Interna e Contexto Ecológico da Coparentalidade de Feinberg (2003), além da Escala de Relação Coparental (ERC), para pais e mães separados/divorciados. Entre os achados foi possível constatar que a aplicação da guarda compartilhada foi considerada como a melhor opção, embora também tenham sido constatadas dificuldades. A coparentalidade entre as díades parentais se revelou positiva na maior parte do tempo, sendo importante no ajustamento dos filhos após a separação. Diversos aspectos dos dois estudos estão em consonância, entre os quais, a dificuldade dos profissionais da área jurídica em orientar seus clientes sobre as diferentes modalidades de guarda. Entre as díades parentais foi possível identificar que a guarda compartilhada vinha sendo possível, mesmo em relacionamentos difíceis. O papel do pai, em relação às décadas anteriores, como mais participante e engajado na educação e nos cuidados com a prole, também apareceu como ponto em comum nos dois estudos empíricos. Destaca-se a importância de ampliar o debate sobre essa modalidade de guarda, bem como buscar alternativas para intervenções junto às famílias em parceria com o judiciário. / This study investigated joint custody, from a literature review and two empirical studies. In the first empirical study, there was a collective case study with eleven law professionals from Rio Grande do Sul. We sought to investigate these professionals perspectives on joint custody, from their practice. The results indicated that joint custody seems to be the model that fits better the interests of the child, considering the joint participation of the parents, although it is still considered controversial when there is a dispute between them. In the second empirical study, a study of collective cases was conducted with four families in joint custody. Parental dyads responded to a semi structured interview based on the literature and the Internal Structure and Ecological Context of Coparenting (Feinberg, 2003), and the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) for separated/divorced parents. Among the results it was found that the application of joint custody was considered as the best option, although they have also been observed difficulties. Coparenting among parental dyads resulted positive in most of the cases, being important in the adjustment of children after divorce. Several aspects of the two studies are congruent, including the difficulty of the law professionals to advise their clients on the different types of custody. Among parental dyads it was identified that joint custody was being possible even in difficult relationships. The father's role as participant and more engaged in education and care to the child also appeared as a common point in the two empirical studies. The present study highlights the importance of broadening the debate on this type of custody and seek alternatives for interventions with families in partnership with the judiciary.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Being the joint custody a recent statutory category in the Brazilian judicial system, it has been causing repercussions in family relationships, especially on the practice of parents’ role and on the possibility of new members joining the family. Thereby, sons need to adapt to this category of custody and to the possible difficulties that might be faced daily in these families. Given that, the research that leaded to this thesis proposed as primary objective to comprehend the meanings assigned by teenage daughters to the experiences on joint custody. For that, it was conducted a qualitative research, using multiple case study. The participants were three adolescent girls and their families, which had been clients of the Núcleo de Assistência Judiciária (Legal Assistance Center), where this research took place and that is an entity associated to a Public University located in the south of Brazil. For data collection, it was used a document analysis of the client’s records in the mentioned institution, the fulfilment of a form with both parents and adolescents and a semi-directive interview conducted with the teenage girls. The data analysis was based on the content analysis. The results of this research are presented and discussed in two articles that are part of this thesis. In the first one, the adolescents express satisfaction with the experiences on joint custody, which allows us to considerate this category of custody as an important strategy for the maintenance of parents’ bounds after marital dissolutions. Besides that, the participants pointed out to some difficulties experienced in the relationships with their parents, however, it seems that these difficulties do not interfere in the joint custody. The second article pointed out, based on the teenage girls narratives, that the mothers are still considered the responsible person by their daughters, however, the fathers, in spite of presenting roles usually more driven to family support, kept present in the care of their daughters. It is emphasized the entrance of stepmothers and stepfathers in family relationships in a non-conflictive way, despite the adolescents narratives pointing out to difficulties that parents experience in relating to new members of the family. / A guarda compartilhada por ser uma modalidade recentemente obrigatória no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro vem repercutindo nas relações familiares, especificamente no exercício das funções parentais e na possibilidade da entrada de novos membros na família. Com isso, os filhos precisam se adaptar a essa modalidade de guarda e as possíveis dificuldades enfrentadas no cotidiano das famílias. A partir disso, a pesquisa da qual se origina a presente dissertação teve como objetivo compreender os significados atribuídos por filhas adolescentes sobre as vivências de guarda compartilhada. Com este intuito, realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa a partir de um estudo de casos múltiplos. Participaram do estudo três adolescentes e suas famílias, as quais foram incluídas por terem sido clientes do Núcleo de Assistência Judiciária, local onde a pesquisa foi realizada, sendo este um órgão vinculado a uma Instituição Pública de Ensino Superior, do sul do país. Como instrumento de coleta de dados utilizou-se a análise documental nos prontuários dos clientes da instituição referida, o preenchimento de um formulário com os pais e com as adolescentes e uma entrevista semidirigida feita com as adolescentes. A análise dos dados foi realizada segundo a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados da presente pesquisa são apresentados e discutidos em dois artigos que compõem esta dissertação. No primeiro, as adolescentes evidenciam as vivências de guarda compartilhada como satisfatória, o que permite considerar esta modalidade de guarda como uma importante estratégia para a manutenção dos vínculos parentais após a dissolução conjugal. Como também, as participantes apontaram algumas dificuldades vivenciadas nas relações com seus pais, entretanto, parece que estas não inviabilizam a guarda compartilhada. O segundo artigo, apontou, a partir do relato das adolescentes, que as mães ainda são consideradas as principais responsáveis pelas filhas, entretanto, os pais (homens), apesar de apresentarem funções mais voltadas para o sustento familiar, mantiveram-se presentes nos cuidados com as filhas. Destacou-se ainda, a inserção de madrastas e padrastos nas relações familiares de forma não conflitiva, embora as adolescentes relatem que os pais parecem ter dificuldades de se relacionar com os novos membros da família.

Este trabalho investigou o instituto da guarda compartilhada, a partir de uma revisão de literatura e dois estudos empíricos. No primeiro estudo empírico, realizou-se um estudo de caso coletivo com onze operadores do Direito do Rio Grande do Sul. Buscou-se investigar a perspectiva desses profissionais sobre a guarda compartilhada, a partir de sua prática. Os resultados indicaram que a guarda compartilhada parece ser o modelo que melhor atende aos interesses da criança, por considerar a participação conjunta dos genitores, embora ainda seja considerada polêmica quando há litígio entre os pais. No segundo estudo empírico, foi realizado um estudo de casos coletivos com quatro famílias que optaram pela guarda compartilhada. As díades parentais responderam a uma entrevista semiestruturada baseada na literatura e no Modelo da Estrutura Interna e Contexto Ecológico da Coparentalidade de Feinberg (2003), além da Escala de Relação Coparental (ERC), para pais e mães separados/divorciados. Entre os achados foi possível constatar que a aplicação da guarda compartilhada foi considerada como a melhor opção, embora também tenham sido constatadas dificuldades. A coparentalidade entre as díades parentais se revelou positiva na maior parte do tempo, sendo importante no ajustamento dos filhos após a separação. Diversos aspectos dos dois estudos estão em consonância, entre os quais, a dificuldade dos profissionais da área jurídica em orientar seus clientes sobre as diferentes modalidades de guarda. Entre as díades parentais foi possível identificar que a guarda compartilhada vinha sendo possível, mesmo em relacionamentos difíceis. O papel do pai, em relação às décadas anteriores, como mais participante e engajado na educação e nos cuidados com a prole, também apareceu como ponto em comum nos dois estudos empíricos. Destaca-se a importância de ampliar o debate sobre essa modalidade de guarda, bem como buscar alternativas para intervenções junto às famílias em parceria com o judiciário. / This study investigated joint custody, from a literature review and two empirical studies. In the first empirical study, there was a collective case study with eleven law professionals from Rio Grande do Sul. We sought to investigate these professionals perspectives on joint custody, from their practice. The results indicated that joint custody seems to be the model that fits better the interests of the child, considering the joint participation of the parents, although it is still considered controversial when there is a dispute between them. In the second empirical study, a study of collective cases was conducted with four families in joint custody. Parental dyads responded to a semi structured interview based on the literature and the Internal Structure and Ecological Context of Coparenting (Feinberg, 2003), and the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) for separated/divorced parents. Among the results it was found that the application of joint custody was considered as the best option, although they have also been observed difficulties. Coparenting among parental dyads resulted positive in most of the cases, being important in the adjustment of children after divorce. Several aspects of the two studies are congruent, including the difficulty of the law professionals to advise their clients on the different types of custody. Among parental dyads it was identified that joint custody was being possible even in difficult relationships. The father's role as participant and more engaged in education and care to the child also appeared as a common point in the two empirical studies. The present study highlights the importance of broadening the debate on this type of custody and seek alternatives for interventions with families in partnership with the judiciary.

Este trabalho investigou o instituto da guarda compartilhada, a partir de uma revisão de literatura e dois estudos empíricos. No primeiro estudo empírico, realizou-se um estudo de caso coletivo com onze operadores do Direito do Rio Grande do Sul. Buscou-se investigar a perspectiva desses profissionais sobre a guarda compartilhada, a partir de sua prática. Os resultados indicaram que a guarda compartilhada parece ser o modelo que melhor atende aos interesses da criança, por considerar a participação conjunta dos genitores, embora ainda seja considerada polêmica quando há litígio entre os pais. No segundo estudo empírico, foi realizado um estudo de casos coletivos com quatro famílias que optaram pela guarda compartilhada. As díades parentais responderam a uma entrevista semiestruturada baseada na literatura e no Modelo da Estrutura Interna e Contexto Ecológico da Coparentalidade de Feinberg (2003), além da Escala de Relação Coparental (ERC), para pais e mães separados/divorciados. Entre os achados foi possível constatar que a aplicação da guarda compartilhada foi considerada como a melhor opção, embora também tenham sido constatadas dificuldades. A coparentalidade entre as díades parentais se revelou positiva na maior parte do tempo, sendo importante no ajustamento dos filhos após a separação. Diversos aspectos dos dois estudos estão em consonância, entre os quais, a dificuldade dos profissionais da área jurídica em orientar seus clientes sobre as diferentes modalidades de guarda. Entre as díades parentais foi possível identificar que a guarda compartilhada vinha sendo possível, mesmo em relacionamentos difíceis. O papel do pai, em relação às décadas anteriores, como mais participante e engajado na educação e nos cuidados com a prole, também apareceu como ponto em comum nos dois estudos empíricos. Destaca-se a importância de ampliar o debate sobre essa modalidade de guarda, bem como buscar alternativas para intervenções junto às famílias em parceria com o judiciário. / This study investigated joint custody, from a literature review and two empirical studies. In the first empirical study, there was a collective case study with eleven law professionals from Rio Grande do Sul. We sought to investigate these professionals perspectives on joint custody, from their practice. The results indicated that joint custody seems to be the model that fits better the interests of the child, considering the joint participation of the parents, although it is still considered controversial when there is a dispute between them. In the second empirical study, a study of collective cases was conducted with four families in joint custody. Parental dyads responded to a semi structured interview based on the literature and the Internal Structure and Ecological Context of Coparenting (Feinberg, 2003), and the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) for separated/divorced parents. Among the results it was found that the application of joint custody was considered as the best option, although they have also been observed difficulties. Coparenting among parental dyads resulted positive in most of the cases, being important in the adjustment of children after divorce. Several aspects of the two studies are congruent, including the difficulty of the law professionals to advise their clients on the different types of custody. Among parental dyads it was identified that joint custody was being possible even in difficult relationships. The father's role as participant and more engaged in education and care to the child also appeared as a common point in the two empirical studies. The present study highlights the importance of broadening the debate on this type of custody and seek alternatives for interventions with families in partnership with the judiciary.