Separated families’ use of formal and informal childcare across 12 European countries
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19472007 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Melissa Radey (0000-0002-9058-0349, Florida State University, corresponding author), Milla Salin (0000-0003-0816-5873, INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku), Mari Haapanen (0000-0002-9077-6552, INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku), M Hakovirta (0000-0002-0947-3985, INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku), Eija Lindroos (0009-0005-0163-4552, INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-20 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-12 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Family Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1322-9400 • E-ISSN: 1839-3543 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13229400.2026.2669946 |
| OpenAlex | W7160945309 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 60 |
As family structures are becoming diverse across Europe, understanding how separated parents manage childcare is essential for supporting children’s well-being. However, little is known about how physical custody arrangements relate to childcare arrangements. Informed by the triple bind framework, this study examined the relationship between custody arrangement and children’s use of formal (e.g. preschool) and informal (e.g. family) care. We analyzed data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey. We included cross-sectional data collected in 2021 from separated parents of children ages 12 and younger living in 12 countries (N = 3786). Children with joint physical custody (JPC) had a higher probability of using formal care than children with sole physical custody (SPC) net of socioeconomic controls and country-level characteristics. Advantage in terms of employment, income, and country regime supporting dual-earner policies promoted formal care use. Physical custody arrangement typically was not related to informal care use. The use of informal care does not seem to be compensating for children in SPC’s lower representation in formal care. Increasing access to formal care through universal programmes could provide a mechanism to promote child health and development
Project commissioning · Publishing · Child Welfare and Adoption · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
The Triple Bind of Single-Parent Families
Do Effects of Early Child Care Extend to Age 15 Years? Results From the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
Children's and Parents’ Well‐Being in Joint Physical Custody
Work–Family Balance, Gender and Policy
Single-parent families and in-work poverty
Lone Mothers, Economic Well‐Being, and Policies
Introduction
Post-separation Care Arrangements and Parents’ Life Satisfaction
Joint Versus Sole Physical Custody
Growing inequality and diverging paths in early childhood education and care
Who uses public childcare for 2‐year‐old children? Coherent family policies and usage patterns in S weden, F inland and W estern G ermany
Lone mothers and the puzzles of daily life
Children’s physical custody arrangements and mothers’ employment in 11 European countries
Exploring A New Family Form - The Shared Time Family
Comparing Care Regimes in Europe
Joint physical custody and mothers’ life satisfaction in Belgium, Finland, and Germany
High rates of stability in post-separation care arrangements
Lone parents, poverty and policy in the European Union
Predicting early center care utilization in a context of universal access
The influence of race/ethnicity on disadvantaged mothers’ child care arrangements
State Dependence in Material and Social Deprivation in European Single-Parent Households
Divorce, Repartnering, and Stepfamilies
Parental leaves and early childhood education and care
Latent profile analysis of toddler parents’ perceptions of early care and education arrangements
Parental preferences and patterns of child care use among low-income families
Joint Physical Custody in Europe
Access to Childcare in Europe
Trends in Mothers’ Work Schedules in the United States, 1988–2019
Changes in Young Children’s Family Structures and Child Care Arrangements
The Role of Single Motherhood in America's High Child Poverty
Mothers’ employment and child care choices across the European Union
Instability of Work and Care
Explaining patterns of inequality in childcare service use across 31 developed economies
Early child care and adolescent functioning at the end of high school
An Empirical Assessment of the Drivers of Formal and Informal Childcare Demand in European Countries
Children’s Living Arrangements after Marital and Cohabitation Dissolution in Europe
Joint physical custody of children in Europe
Commentary
Uptake of Childcare Arrangements-Grandparental Availability and Availability of Formal Childcare
Family Policies in OECD Countries
Life-table representations of family dynamics in the 21st century
Characteristics of joint physical custody families in Flanders
Gluing, catching and connecting
Balancing paid work, care and leisure in post-separation households
Children's Postdivorce Residence Arrangements and Parental Experienced Time Pressure
The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |