As parents going through a divorce, you likely spend a lot of time feeling concerned about how you want to approach matters like custody. After all, you want what is best for your child.
In that case, you may want to look into joint custody. Over the years, studies continue to show that it provides a strong set of benefits for children who experience it.
Joint custody and improved mental health
Psychology Today looks at new studies focused on children of joint custody. Joint custody involves both parents having equal custody over their child. This usually implies legal custody, as it is difficult for many divorced couples to share true joint physical custody due to separate living situations.
However, even joint legal custody and the continued presence of both parents in a child’s life seems to have notable impacts.
For one, children of joint custody seem to have a lower rate of reported instances of depression and anxiety. This even includes trauma or stress-based disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, which children of sole custody suffer from at a higher rate.
Maintaining healthy relationships
Children of joint custody also seem to grow up and have fewer issues with healthy relationship maintenance, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. They seem to develop healthier coping mechanisms in their youth as well, leading to fewer instances of reported addiction problems, such as gambling, smoking or alcohol.
Joint custody does not suit everyone, though. In a situation where one parent faces allegations of abuse, or they simply cannot be around their child due to incarceration or deployment, then sole custody may serve as a good secondary option.
