The Gingerbread and One Plus One Seminar funded by the Nuffield Foundation The legal and emotional implications of shared parenting- How does it work? Friday12 th November 12.30pm -3pm.

Why relationships matter Poor quality parental relationships are associated with poor parenting and poor quality parent-child relationships. PARENTING Tasks: e.g. physical care, boundary setting Behaviours: e.g. responsiveness, affection and positive regard Relationship qualities: e.g. giving emotional security, secure attachment CHILD OUTCOMES Physical health Mental health Educational achievement Income Anti-social behaviour Offending Relationship stability Early parenthood © Copyright One Plus One 2007

“ Parenting - what parents actually do with and for children– arises from a wide variety of influences ” Professor David Quinton Supporting Parents: Messages from research, 2004 P A R E T I N G Parent Mental & physical health genetic characteristics childhood experience current circumstances Parent Mental & physical health genetic characteristics childhood experience current circumstances New partner Mental & physical health genetic characteristics childhood experience current circumstances

Impact of Relationship Breakdown (Coleman and Glenn, 2009)  Unequivocal association between couple relationship breakdown and ill health, both physical and mental  Relationship must be high quality to be advantageous  Relationship breakdown should be viewed as a process; conflict is key  Dissolution of a relationship results in loss of protective benefits from being in a relationship as well as strains associated with the process of separation  Although divorce is more common, the adverse outcomes for adults and children have not diminished  Extensive reviews report associations between couple relationship breakdown and poor child outcomes  Negative impacts of relationship breakdown on children far from universal  Impact of multiple relationship transitions – particularly detrimental to children

Moderating Factors A number of moderating factors can determine the impact of relationship breakdown On adults they include: Social and economic support, who initiated the separation, ability to forgive On children they include: Parenting quality, Financial resources, Maternal mental health, Childs age, Pre- divorce conflict, Communication between parent and child about separation, Relationship with child and contact after separation, New family setting Strong evidence that stresses facing children are mediated through parent child relationship

Relationships: the Vicious Cycle Father dissatisfied with relationship with mother Mother critical of father – conflict rises Mother feels unsupported Father less involved with child ©

Level 3 Working on it Level 2 Talking about it Level 1 Finding out about it Level of engagementStages of the helping process EXPLORING UNDERSTANDING MAKING CHANGES MAKING PLANS REVIEWING Levels of engagement and the helping process