Multilocal, dual residence or shared parenting arrangements after parental separation are increasingly discussed in many countries because they seem best suited to allow for more equally shared parental roles and children’s equal access to both (biological) parents. So far, there is little information about shared physical custody in Germany. The present research uses the second wave from a large German survey “Growing up in Germany” (2013–2015) to investigate the prevalence, preconditions, as well as possible outcomes of shared physical custody after separation. The sample comprises 1042 children (below age 18) with separated parents (maternal report). Measured by children’s overnight stays with each parent, less than 5% of these children lived in a dual residence arrangement (50:50 up to 60:40% of time with either parent). Shared physical custody was more likely if maternal and paternal residence were in close proximity, and if the mother had higher levels of education. As expected, shared physical custody was more likely if the parents had a positive cooperative (co-parenting) relationship while co-parenting problems did not seem to have independent effects. The findings are discussed with respect to other research addressing issues of self-selection into different parenting arrangements and the still limited role of shared physical custody in Germany in facilitating more equal gender roles.

Zusammenfassung Im Kontext wachsender Scheidungsraten wurden dem kindlichen Wohlbefinden in Stief-und alleinerziehenden Familien in den letzten Jahrzehnten viel Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt. Die Heterogenität von Stieffamilien wurde dabei allerdings weitgehend vernachlässigt. Basierend auf Daten des repräsentativen Surveys "Aufwachsen in Deutschland: Alltagswelten" (2009, N = 2144) vergleicht die vorliegende Studie das selbst berichtete Wohlbefinden (SDQ) von Kindern (9-12 Jahre) in Kernfamilien, Stiefvaterfamilien, komplexen Stieffamilien mit mindestens einem gemeinsamen Kind und Familien mit einer alleinerziehenden Mutter. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Kinder, die mit einer alleinerziehenden Mutter oder in einer komplexen Stieffamilie leben, Nachteile hinsichtlich ihres Wohlbefindens aufweisen. Die Kinder geben ein schlechteres Familienklima und mehr Streit in der Familie an als Kinder in Kernfamilien. Bei Kindern aus (einfachen) Stiefvaterfamilien konnten keine Nachteile nachgewiesen werden. Die Interpretation der Ergebnisse verweist auf unterschiedliche Risiken und Herausforderungen, mit denen einerseits Alleinerziehende, andererseits aber auch komplexere Stieffamilienformen konfrontiert sind.Abstract In the context of increasing divorce rates, much attention has been paid to children's well-being in separated single-parent and stepfamilies. However, the heterogeneity and variations in complexity in stepfamilies have long been neglected. Based on data from the representative survey "Growing up in Germany" (2009, N = 2144), the present study compares the self-reported psychological well-being of children (9-12 years), assessed with the Strenghts and Difficulties Questionaire (SDQ), in nuclear, single-mother, simple stepfather families, and complex stepfamilies (with at least one joint child). The findings suggest disadvantages for children's well-being in single-mother and complex stepfamilies which can largely be accounted for by the lower level of family cohesion and increased family conflict reported by these children when compared to children in nuclear families. No disadvantages were found for children in simple stepfather-families. The findings are interpreted with respect to the diverse risks and challenges involved in managing not only single parenthood but also increased family complexity.

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Most children continue to live with their mother after a divorce or separation, yet paternal involvement in post-separation families has increased substantially in many Western nations. This shift has contributed to a growing share and more diverse set of post-separation parents opting for shared physical custody (SPC), which typically means that children alternate between the parental residences for substantive amounts of time. Profiling the case of Germany, where no legal regulations facilitating SPC are implemented to date, we examine the prevalence of SPC families, sociodemographic correlates of SPC, and its associations with parental coparenting and child adjustment. Using representative survey data sampled in 2019 (N = 800 minors of 509 separated parents), results revealed that only 6–8% of children practiced SPC. SPC parents were more likely to hold tertiary levels of schooling and to report a better coparenting relationship with the other parent. There was no link between SPC and child adjustment, yet conflictual coparenting was linked to higher levels of hyperactivity among SPC children. We conclude that the social selection into SPC and linkages between conflictual coparenting and hyperactivity among SPC children likely stem from the higher costs and the constant level of communication between the ex-partners that SPC requires.