Over the years, joint custody has gathered a reputation for serving as a beneficial option for divorcing families. Studies across the globe taking place over decades show time and again that children of divorce enjoy numerous benefits because of joint custody.
But just what are these benefits? How well do children actually handle life after divorce with joint custody?
The biggest draw for parents
The American Psychological Association discusses the impact of joint custody on children of divorced parents. Generally speaking, the biggest draw of joint custody is the fact that it allows parents to both have a say in how their child grows up and gets raised.
This also benefits the child due to the dual levels of support, love and attention these children enjoy from each parent.
Various benefits for children
One well-documented benefit involves the child’s relationships. Due to an improved ability to structure healthy coping mechanisms, children of joint custody tend to cultivate better relationships, too. This goes for relationships ranging from childhood friends all the way to romantic ties formed in later adulthood.
Children of joint custody also report lower levels of mental health struggles specifically tied to their parent’s divorce. This includes reports of depression and anxiety, as well as rarer troubles such as post-traumatic stress disorder and other stress or trauma-based disorders.
Due to earlier trauma management, many of these people also struggle less with things like addiction in the future. This also relates to the better coping mechanisms developed in earlier life, and they last throughout adulthood.
Thus, joint custody holds numerous benefits that children of divorce can enjoy.
