The share of so-called co-parenting is not only increasing, Belgium also towers above the European average. This is the conclusion of a study by the University of Antwerp (UA). “The week-by-week arrangement after a divorce is more common here than in other countries,” says Professor Dimitri Mortelmans (UA). “The arrangement whereby the children alternately stay with each of the parents has gained great popularity in our country in recent decades.”
In Belgium, the share of co-parenting is 30.4 percent. In 1995 it was 6.5 percent. The European average today is 21.1 percent. “Although the arrangement is not yet the absolute norm,” says colleague Elke Claessens (UA), because 40 percent of children with divorced parents stay exclusively with the mother, and 13.9 percent mainly with the mother.
Higher educated
On the other hand, the researchers see that 6.3 percent stay exclusively and 10.3 percent mainly with the father. These figures are remarkably lower than the European average. Parents in joint custody are also remarkably more often higher educated. “Despite the legal framework, the phenomenon is not completely disconnected from a stronger educational position,” says Claessens.
According to the researchers, the reason for the rising trend can be found in the legislation. “When it comes to the child’s residence arrangement, Belgium is a remarkable case,” says Professor Mortelmans. “Since 2006, it has been one of the only European countries where judges are required to consider evenly distributed residence as the first option if the parents fail to reach consensus on the residence arrangement.”
Beneficial for parents and children
There has long been a debate in scientific circles about the usefulness of this week-by-week arrangement, but studies would show that co-parenting is beneficial for both children and parents. The highest share of residence co-parenting, where the child lives with one of the parents between one and two thirds of the time, is found in Sweden, where 56 percent of children from separated households live alternately with each parent. Denmark follows in second place with 38 percent and France is at 31.4 percent.
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2023-06-06 05:32:57
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