Family Relationship and Child Wellbeing in Post-Separation Families

In this project, we analysed the impact of parental separation and stepfamily formation on various aspects of child well-being, including psychosocial well-being, stress (measured via a biological stress marker), and school performance. To assess these outcomes, we utilised a range of longitudinal data sources, such as survey data, medical records, and registry data. This comprehensive data allowed us to employ robust longitudinal analysis techniques, such as fixed effects regressions.

Our results confirm that children’s well-being generally declines after parental separation, which manifests itself in diminished psychosocial well-being, lower school performance, and increased stress levels. Specifically, our findings show that children’s math and reading scores begin to decline already in the years preceding parental separation, underscoring that the negative impact is not confined to the year of separation. However, despite these patterns, the effect sizes of parental separation on children’s well-being are relatively small. By controlling for unobserved heterogeneity and selection effects, our project provides insights that extend beyond cross-sectional analyses. The impact of stepfamily formation on children’s well-being, however, remains ambiguous and requires further investigation. While children in stepfamilies are more likely to experience reduced psychosocial health, they do not show elevated stress responses.

Importantly, our project also aimed to identify factors that may buffer the negative effects of family transitions. We found that a strong parent–child relationship and a higher socioeconomic status can mitigate these adverse effects. This nuanced understanding provides a foundation for developing tailored interventions to support the well-being of children in post-separation families.