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The long-term improvement in father–child relationships after divorce: Descriptive findings from the Netherlands

Author

Listed:
  • Frederique Van Spijker

    (Onderzoek, Informatie en Statistiek, Amsterdam)

  • Matthijs Kalmijn

    (Nederlands Interdisciplinair Demografisch Instituut (NIDI))

  • Ruben van Gaalen

    (Universiteit van Amsterdam)

Abstract

Background: Little is known about how the negative effect of parental divorce on father–child relations has changed over time. Existing cohort studies do not contain questions on father–child relationships after divorce and the investigated time period is often short. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe long-term changes in the association between parental divorce and father–child contact. Methods: We used pooled cross-sectional surveys from the Netherlands (N = 24,172) containing retrospective questions about respondents’ relations with parents during childhood. We compared divorce cohorts to examine trends. We used interaction effects of cohort and education to compare trends across educational groups. Results: The results show that father–child relations after divorce improved across cohorts. There was a spectacular decline in the share of children who did not see their father after divorce, and if they did maintain contact there was also an increase – albeit more modest – in the perceived quality of the tie. Ironically, because the share of non-existent relationships declined so quickly, there was also an increase in the overall share of poor relationships with fathers. We further observe strong educational differences in post-divorce relationships with fathers, but these differences declined across divorce cohorts. Conclusions: The quality of father–child relations after divorce improved considerably across cohorts. This trend is interpreted in terms of the institutionalization of divorce (less stigma and better legal arrangements for fathers) and changing gender roles. Contribution: This trend is interpreted in terms of the institutionalization of divorce (less stigma and better legal arrangements for fathers) and in terms of changing gender roles.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederique Van Spijker & Matthijs Kalmijn & Ruben van Gaalen, 2022. "The long-term improvement in father–child relationships after divorce: Descriptive findings from the Netherlands," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(15), pages 441-452.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:46:y:2022:i:15
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2022.46.15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. An Katrien Sodermans & Koen Matthijs & Gray Swicegood, 2013. "Characteristics of joint physical custody families in Flanders," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 28(29), pages 821-848.
    2. Jacob Cheadle & Paul Amato & Valarie King, 2010. "Patterns of nonresident father contact," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 47(1), pages 205-225, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthijs Kalmijn, 2023. "Weakened parent–child ties and the well-being of older divorced parents," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 48(21), pages 591-608.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    divorce; parent-child relations; fathers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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