Understanding child support arrangements in Colombia: A social exchange theory perspective

Abstract

ObjectiveIn this research, we examine the characteristics of custodial‐mother families with a child support arrangement in Colombia and how key concepts from social exchange theory are associated with having these arrangements.BackgroundA significant proportion of custodial‐mother families do not receive financial support from noncustodial fathers. Prior research has identified processes behind low rates of child support receipt, but little is known about which factors determine whether separated parents make a child support arrangement in the first place, especially in less affluent countries.MethodsUsing data on custodial mothers interviewed in the Colombian Longitudinal Survey, we used descriptive statistics to examine the characteristics of custodial mothers with a child support arrangement and estimated logistic regression models to examine how economic dependence and commitment before separation are associated with having a child support arrangement.ResultsOnly 35.7% of custodial‐mother families had a child support arrangement, typically a private one. Mothers with an arrangement were more socioeconomically advantaged than those who did not have one. Only economic independence factors were significantly associated with having an arrangement, and a custodial mother's economic independence discouraged having any child support arrangement.ConclusionEconomic factors may bear more weight than interpersonal ties in decisions to pursue a child support arrangement in Colombia.ImplicationsAn assessment of the costs associated with pursuing a child support arrangement in Colombia is an important step to improve the child support system's outreach to custodial mothers, current programming, and type of services provided at different stages of the process.

Family issues and custodial mothers' quest for justice: Evidence from Colombia

“…We expect many of the same social, demographic, and economic correlates to be important factors determining help‐seeking when facing other family legal issues that also require a resolution through formal institutions. As shown in previous research among Colombian mothers (Cuesta et al., 2022), mothers with less socioeconomic capital may face barriers to addressing their family legal needs. They may lack bargaining power to seek informal help, and they may be burdened by the time and money in pursuing formal help.…”

“…Mothers are often the primary caregivers for their children (Esquivel & Faur, 2012; Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social Profamilia, 2017), and this may impact their ability to seek help for their legal needs. Moreover, mothers' ability to find a resolution for their legal needs has critical implications for their children's well‐being, especially for the increasing proportion of children living in custodial‐mother families (i.e., families in which the child lives with their mother, including those in which the child lives with their mother and stepparent) which often face a variety of disadvantages compared to two‐parent families (Cuesta & Guarin, 2024). Thus, investigating mothers’ legal needs and how mothers in different family configurations approach their quest for justice is an important goal for improving child and family well‐being.…”

“…Second, Colombia‘s families are changing in ways that may contribute to the significant and growing proportion of custodial mothers in different family configurations. These changes include high and rising rates of cohabitation (Institute for Family Studies, 2019), a substantial share of nonmarital births (Cerrutti & Binstock, 2009; Esteve et al., 2012, 2016), increasing union instability which has multiplied the shared of divorced and separated women (Arriagada, 2004; Flórez & Sanchez‐Cespedes, 2013), and a rise in repartnered‐mother families (Cuesta & Guarin, 2024). Additionally, a significant proportion of custodial‐mother families in Colombia experience poverty (Cuesta & Guarin, 2024; Cuesta & Meyer, 2014) and high levels of food insecurity (Cuesta, 2014).…”

“…Among family legal issues, child support and custody are the most common types of legal issues declared (Departamento Nacional de Planeación, 2017). This is important to note, as child support from noncustodial fathers is an important source of income for children living in custodial‐mother families, particularly for those at risk of poverty (Cancian & Meyer, 2018) yet only about one in three custodial mothers have a child support arrangement in place (Cuesta et al., 2022) and less than 30% of custodial mothers receives this transfer (Cuesta & Guarin, 2024). Additionally, child support is a relevant family issue to consider as Colombia does not have a child support enforcement program and, therefore, enforcement only occurs when the custodial parent sues the noncustodial parent (Cuesta & Guarin, 2024).…”

“…The experiences of women with children may also differ from those of women without children, but prior research has not examined mothers‘ legal needs. Moreover, compared to mothers in two‐parent families, custodial mothers (i.e., mothers who have at least one child whose father is alive but not co‐residing with the mother and their children) may face more difficulties resolving their legal needs due to their precarious economic circumstances (Cuesta et al., 2018; Cuesta & Guarin, 2024) and the pressures of single parenting. For instance, women reporting child support issues often do not know of the whereabouts of the father of their child(ren), and/or the fathers tend to be economically disadvantaged or they do not report any source of income (La Rota et al., 2014).…”