Seeing your child less frequently than you might like can prove difficult under any circumstances, but if you are seeing less of your child because of a new California joint-custody arrangement, it can be even more emotionally exhausting. At Family Law Group, Inc., we recognize that a joint-custody arrangement is not always everyone’s preference. However, we also understand that it may help you adjust to your new situation if you recognize how your new joint-custody arrangement can benefit your child.
According to Time, children whose parents share custody of them tend to fare better in a number of key areas than their peers who also have divorced parents, but who live with just one of those parents. To arrive at this determination, researchers reviewed nationwide data relating to nearly 150,000 children in either the sixth or ninth grades, looking at not only their familial and custody arrangements, but their overall physical and emotional well-being.
Researchers found that children who lived in “nuclear” families, or households where both mom and dad were present and still together, were least likely to report emotional and psychosomatic problems. However, the data researchers reviewed also indicated that, when it comes to children with divorced parents, those who lived with both parents at least some of the time were generally emotionally and physically better off than those who lived with one parent, exclusively.
More specifically, kids whose parents divorced, but decided to share custody, were less likely to say they experienced issues sleeping, eating or concentrating. Children who spent time in both of their parent’s houses were also less likely to experience health issues in the vein of headaches or stomachaches. So, while your joint-custody arrangement may require a period of adjustment, remember that it may well be the best possible solution for your son or daughter. You can find more about child custody issues on our webpage.