{"title":"Of course, quantity AND quality of nonresidential father involvement matter … as part of every individualized best interests of the child determination: Commentary on Adamsons 2018 article","authors":"Milfred D. Dale","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1515686","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1515686","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Adamsons uses two prominent meta-analyses to argue that “time (of father involvement) is a necessary but not sufficient factor” in predicting child adjustment after parental separation. Quantity of contact between nonresidential parents and their children does not, by itself, predict child adjustment or well-being. Adamsons points out the ingredients for positive child adjustment include father involvement in activities, forming quality father–child relationships, and authoritative parenting. She also notes there are instances when contact can be negative and adversely impact the child’s adjustment. Scholars and practitioners should not be surprised by these findings, which illustrate the complexity of the task of deciding what is best for children and the need for individualized determinations. Adamsons provides a cogent argument against making decisions based on “averages” and notes the need to consider moderating variables when predicting child adjustment. She easily defeats one strawman presumption argument (e.g., time does not matter), then seems to miss how that the logic of her arguments also undermines the argument for an equal time presumption. The individualized best interests of the child standard is never mentioned in her article, but it remains the approach that best fits the task and the data.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73171632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary: Implicit cultural arguments affect the science of shared parenting","authors":"M. S. Milchman","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1543035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1543035","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This commentary suggests that research on shared parenting is moving along a trajectory for politically embedded science from Stage 1 oversimplified polemics to Stage 2 responsiveness to polarized debate, achieving complexity by acknowledging the merits of some of the issues raised by both sides. It suggests that despite this advance, cultural arguments that support the fathers’ rights agenda still creep into and subtly warp the science of shared parenting. It identifies three types of “creep”: (1) denying intrinsic ties between shared parenting research and the political and economic interests of its advocates; (2) interpreting scientific epistemology to support overgeneralizing empirical results and minimizing the importance of individual differences in children’s responses to shared parenting; and (3) using terms for theoretical constructs that contain implicit misogynistic connotations. These intrusions obfuscate the political and legal implications of the research.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79398672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary on: Joint versus sole physical custody: Outcomes for children independent of family income or parental conflict","authors":"E. Kohutis","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1539937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1539937","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The debate about joint physical custody rages in the scientific community as scholars and practitioners gather information about what is best for children when parents divorce. The field of child custody is vast and complex, and summaries are welcomed reviews. This commentary is a summary of some of the obstacles that may be encountered.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74216241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impregnation rapists, parental rights, and the often ignored constitutional rights of victims: An important case study from Massachusetts","authors":"W. Murphy","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1470054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1470054","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In 2015, Congress passed a law regarding victims who become pregnant from rape. Specifically, the new federal law offers funding incentives to encourage state legislatures to enact laws related to parental rights when rapists impregnate their victims. Since that time, and even prior, many states have been proposing and passing legislation on the topic. This article addresses the ways that such laws ignore the important constitutional rights of rape victims and how these laws create rather than prohibit parental rights for rapists by assuming, incorrectly, that parentage is caused by DNA alone. This article tracks the law in Massachusetts after an impregnated fourteen year-old rape victim was forced by the criminal court judge presiding over her rape case to participate in family court for 16 years with her attacker. The victim objected to the jurisdiction of the family court on the grounds that the criminal court judge had no authority to send her to family court and that the rapist had no parental rights to adjudicate in any court. She also argued that she had a constitutional right not to be forced by the government to participate in family court proceedings for one day, much less 16 years, with the man who raped her.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77224153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Children’s knowledge of custody-related terminology and perceptions of a parental separation scenario","authors":"I-An Su, Yee-San Teoh","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1515687","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1515687","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The present study examined children’s knowledge of legal terminology and perceptions of a separation scenario common in child custody evaluations. Participants included 114 elementary school students comprising three age groups ranging from seven to twelve years. Age differences emerged in children’s knowledge of eighteen legal terms, the nature of their errors, and amount of information provided in response to a separation scenario. Factors such as verbal skills and legal-related television programs/movies watching correlated with children’s understanding of custody-related terminology. Children were also able to provide reasons for a hypothetical child’s custody preference. Implications for future research and applications to court preparation and training of legal professionals are discussed.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86745233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predicting adoption dissolutions for children involved in the child welfare system","authors":"Elinam D. Dellor, B. Freisthler","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1460001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1460001","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT While the majority of foster care adoptions are stable and secure, some dissolve, resulting in the return of children to the system. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with children’s reentry into the foster care system after adoptions are formally finalized. Using case records from the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Bureau of Information Systems (BIS), we compared 123 dissolved adoptions to 74 successful ones. We found that children’s gender, history of physical abuse, exposure to drug use, and the number of foster care placements prior to adoption are associated with greater odds of dissolution. Furthermore, the odds of dissolution were higher for relative adoptive parents and for adoptive parents with prior substantiated Child Welfare cases. Implications for practice include ongoing targeted training and supportive services for families and improved screening procedures that address the unique needs of adoptive parents.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86555506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Cyr, J. Frappier, M. Hébert, M. Tourigny, P. McDuff, Marie-Ève Turcotte
{"title":"Impact of child sexual abuse disclosure on the health of nonoffending parents: A longitudinal perspective","authors":"M. Cyr, J. Frappier, M. Hébert, M. Tourigny, P. McDuff, Marie-Ève Turcotte","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1460649","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1460649","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure on parents’ psychological health has been documented among samples of nonoffending parents. Much less is known about the parents’ physical health. This study assesses the longitudinal impact of CSA disclosure on both the mental and physical health of parents and explores potential gender differences. Interviews with 92 mothers and 32 fathers were completed approximately 12 months and 18 months following disclosure. Generalized as well as mixed model analyses revealed that mothers reported more psychological distress, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and activity limitation than fathers. With the exception of PTSD symptoms which showed a significant reduction over time, all other psychological and physical symptoms persisted. The findings highlight the importance of ensuring services for an extended period for the small proportion of parents who display especially high vulnerability.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88570205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Judite Leite, H. Gomes, Andreia de Castro-Rodrigues, R. Gonçalves, Olga Cunha
{"title":"Psychometric properties of the “parent-child relationship inventory” (PCRI) in a portuguese forensic sample","authors":"Judite Leite, H. Gomes, Andreia de Castro-Rodrigues, R. Gonçalves, Olga Cunha","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2018.1445058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2018.1445058","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In Portugal, there is a gap regarding psychological tests validated for forensic contexts, particularly those related to child custody issues. The Parent–Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) is one of the most used instruments in child custody contexts. This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of PCRI in a Portuguese forensic sample. PCRI factorial structure and psychometric properties were analyzed in a sample of 144 parents involved in child custody assessments. The questionnaire showed good internal consistency, except for the parental support, autonomy, and role orientation scales. It also showed good discriminant capacity. The confirmatory factor analysis did not replicate the 7-factor model proposed by Gerard. The results were discussed based on the use of PCRI in the context of child custody assessment.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88591591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Ferguson, Sara Wright, Jodi Death, Kylie Burgess, J. Malouff
{"title":"Allegations of child sexual abuse in parenting disputes: An examination of judicial determinations in the Family Court of Australia","authors":"C. Ferguson, Sara Wright, Jodi Death, Kylie Burgess, J. Malouff","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2017.1415776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2017.1415776","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study examined Family Court of Australia (FCA) judicial determinations in parenting disputes when allegations of child sexual abuse (CSA) are made by an interested party, usually the mother. For the study, 156 published judgments from 2013–2015 were examined to measure how often allegations of CSA are substantiated, suspected to be true, and disbelieved. The characteristics most common in substantiated versus unsubstantiated cases, evidence of abuse presented, and resulting parenting orders were assessed. Findings indicate that, against international comparisons, FCA judges substantiate cases very conservatively, with rates of substantiation much lower than in other studies. Allegations made by mothers against fathers were disproportionately unsubstantiated, as were those which did not fall under the Magellan case management system. Cases where the only evidence of CSA was a child’s disclosure and parent’s allegation were common in both substantiated and unsubstantiated cases, meaning that a lack of other evidence does not preclude a positive finding of risk of CSA by the FCA. Those cases also involving a protection order against the accused were more likely to be substantiated. Confirmation biases and a judicial tendency to err on the side of false negatives are discussed.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90294025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Joint versus sole physical custody: Outcomes for children independent of family income or parental conflict","authors":"Linda Nielsen","doi":"10.1080/15379418.2017.1422414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2017.1422414","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Is joint physical custody (JPC) linked to any better or worse outcomes for children than sole physical custody (SPC) after considering family income and parental conflict? In the 60 studies published in English in academic journals or in government reports, 34 studies found that JPC children had better outcomes on all of the measures of behavioral, emotional, physical, and academic well-being and relationships with parents and grandparents. In 14 studies, JPC children had equal outcomes on some measures and better outcomes on others compared to SPC children. In 6 studies JPC and SPC children were equal on all measures. In 6 studies, JPC children were worse on one of the measures than SPC children, but equal or better on all other measures. In the 25 studies that considered family income, JPC children had better outcomes on all measures in 18 studies, equal to better outcomes in 4 studies, equal outcomes in 1 study, and worse outcomes on one measure but equal or better outcomes on other measures in 2 studies. In the 19 studies that included parental conflict, JPC children had better outcomes on all measures in 9 studies, equal to better outcomes in 5 studies, equal outcomes in 2 studies, and worse outcomes on one measure but equal or better outcomes on other measures in 3 studies. In sum, independent of family income or parental conflict, JPC is generally linked to better outcomes for children.","PeriodicalId":45478,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child Custody","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80775092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}