Taking a longer view of contact: The perspectives of young adults who experienced parental separation in their youth
Thousands of children experience parental separation every year. An increasing body of international research shows that most will find this event extremely stressful and that some will experience long-term adverse outcomes. An important way of protecting them from such harm is to ensure that they have a positive relationship with each parent. On separation couples must decide how their children’s future care is to be organised. The traditional arrangement is for one parent (typically the mother) to be the primary carer, and for the other (usually the father) to become the contact parent. This research study was conceived at a time when there was considerable debate over whether legislation should be introduced encouraging separating parents to share their children’s time more equally between them.
This controversy has recently gained pace with the government now intent on amending the Children Act 1989 in a way designed to promote non-resident parents’ greater involvement in children’s lives. Whatever the outcome of these plans, contact will remain high on the UK family policy agenda. It is also one of the most difficult issues faced by the courts and family justice practitioners. It is therefore crucial for legislators, policy-makers and practitioners to have access to sound empirical evidence which can help inform their thinking. Without it there is a real danger that important changes will be introduced without asking one vital question – what is the long-term impact on the children themselves of the contact arrangements that parents make under the existing law?
This study aimed to address this research gap by documenting the views of young adults who experienced parental separation in their youth.
Published : 30th November 2012
Author : Jane Fortin Joan Hunt and Lesley Scanlan [ More From This Author ]
Publisher : Sussex Law School [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : Jane Fortin, Joan Hunt, Lesley Scanlan
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