Surveyed a representative sample of 3,745 adults to measure the incidence of parental child snatching. Results showed 55 respondents, or 1.5 percent of the sample, reported recent personal involvement in a child snatching incident, suggesting a projected estimate of 459,000 to 751,000 incidents of child snatching each year. (JAC)

In nationally representative sample of children whose parents were divorced, separated, or unmarried, found no evidence that children in shared custody had less conflictual or better relationships with their parents. Children in sole custody gave parents more support than those in shared custody. When parents had high levels of disagreements with…

Examined custodial fathers' engagement activities with minor children using data from heterosexual couples from National Survey of Families and Households. Strongest and most consistent predictors of paternal involvement with children 5-18 years of age were children's characteristics (age, number, biological status, gender composition). (Author/NB)

Investigated whether observed divorce settlements suggest that parents make trade-offs between several dimensions related to their children (custody, visitation, support) and marital property. Data from National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 support notion that parents make such trade-offs. (Author/NB)

Used court records to investigate children and divorce in New Zealand. Found a marked trend toward more involvement of children, reflecting both a rising divorce rate and a shift to higher parities in distribution of divorcing couples by parity. Maternal monopoly on formal custody awards has intensified. (NRB)

Examined three data sets to explore assumptions about custodial fathers: there are few father-only families, most custodial fathers have remarried, many single fathers are widowers, custodial fathers have high incomes, and fathers primarily receive custody of older boys. Concluded that many assumptions are untrue and that child support policies…

Describes single fathers rearing children alone following divorce (N=1,136). Findings revealed four primary reasons for the divorce and four broad situations in which the fathers obtained custody. These latter situations often are affected by the mother's desire to relinquish custody. (NRB)

Examined coparenting among nearly 1,000 divorcing families approximately 18 months after parental separation. Compared three patterns of de facto residential custody (children living with mother, with father, or having dual residence). Amount of conflict in coparenting was related to intensity of earlier interparental hostility. (Author/NB)

Used data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine whether effects of nonresident father involvement on child well-being varied by race, mother's education, or whether child was born within or outside marriage. Results showed few interactive effects and no identifiable set of conditions emerged that increased or reduced importance of…

Examined child-related, postdivorce litigation in families with young children by reviewing legal records of 700 divorced couples without children and 700 couples with young children. Data revealed high relitigation rate, particularly among parents. Support issues were relitigated more frequently than were visitation and custody issues. (Author/NB)

Examined effects of adult children's divorce on their relationships with parents, using local probability sample of 905 parents. In general, divorced daughters with child custody had more contact than married daughters and received more help from parents. Sons received more babysitting help when they were married than in other situations. Divorce…

Used data from 212 divorced fathers to investigate relationships between frequency of father-child contact, visitation quality, and child support payment. Found that fathers who saw their children frequently tended to live nearby, reported higher levels of father-child closeness before divorce, and were more likely to have joint custody. Found…

Used data from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine the economic impact of child support reform on affected families. Results revealed that, compared to the current child support system, the proposed alternative would reduce poverty for custodial families but would increase poverty for noncustodial families. (Author/NB)

Examined how divorce and remarriage affect persons' relationships with their former relatives by marriage. Results revealed that nearly all surviving ex-affinal relationships involved adults with children, especially custodial parents. Women were more likely than men to maintain ties with ex-affines. Custodial status, however, appeared to be a…

Describes recent changes in divorce laws in United States, England, Wales, France, and Sweden. Notes that divorce has become increasingly easy to obtain; spousal support has become less common; efforts have been made to increase child support awards and to improve payment compliance; and shared parental decision-making authority has become…