Non-resident parent-child contact after marital dissolution and parental repartnering: Evidence from Italy

Silvia Meggiolaro; Fausta Ongaro

Volume 33 - Article 40 | Pages 1137–1152

Non-resident parent-child contact after marital dissolution and parental repartnering: Evidence from Italy

By Silvia Meggiolaro, Fausta Ongaro

Date received:

30 Apr 2015

Date published:

26 Nov 2015

Word count:

2500

Keywords:

gender differences, nonresident fathers, nonresident mothers, nonresident parent-child contact, parents’ repartnering

DOI:

10.4054/DemRes.2015.33.40

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Abstract

Background: With the diffusion of marital instability, the number of children who spend some of their childhood without one of their parents has become significant, even in Italy. Therefore, given the importance of parent-child interactions for children’s wellbeing, analyzing children's contact with the non-resident parent has become relevant.

Objective: In this paper we consider the frequency of contact between children and their non- resident parent after separation, with a double aim: a) to analyze if and how the non- resident parent’s contact with his/her children varies according to whether the (resident or non-resident) parent has repartnered, and b) to investigate whether the relationship between repartnering and contact differs according to the gender of the non-resident parent.

Methods: The study focuses on children aged 0-17 living with only one biological parent, using data pooled together from two cross-sectional rounds of the Italian survey, Family and Social Subjects.

Results: Results show that parents' repartnering is positively associated with lower non-resident parent-child contact only in the case of non-resident fathers; in the case of a non- resident mother, her repartnering is actually correlated with higher contact.