June 28, 2018 – Joint Physical Custody bodes well for relationships with grandparents

In all 4 studies that compared JPC and SPC children’s relationships with their grandparents, JPC children had the better relationships (Jappens & Bavel, 2016; Kaspiew et al., 2009; Lodge & Alexander, 2010; Westphal, Poortman, & Van der Lippe, 2015) As Table 1 indicates, these studies included large numbers of children ranging in age from 2 to 25. These findings are noteworthy because children who have close relationships with their grandparents after their parents separate are better adjusted emotionally and behaviorally than children without these close relationships (for a review see Jappens, 2018, in press). In these regards, then, JPC children again have an advantage over SPC children.

Linda Nielsen (2018): Joint versus sole physical custody: Outcomes for children independent of family income or parental conflict, Journal of Child Custody, DOI: 10.1080/15379418.2017.1422414, at page 10