Parental separation lowers children’s living standards, according to a study

The separation of parents can have psychological consequences on the well-being of their children, but not only that. According to a note from France Stratégie and the National Institute of Demographic Studies published on Wednesday 31 January, in France, this also translates into a lasting decline in the standard of living of their children.

An “immediate” drop in living standards

This, especially for children who reside primarily with their mothers, where the risk of poverty is greatest, especially for working and middle class children. Their standard of living collapses 19% the year of the parents’ separation, compared to the previous one, according to the study conducted on 36,000 affected children between 2011 and 2019.

In addition to being “immediate”, the decline in living standards is “long-lasting” according to the note: five years after the separation, the children’s living standards remain about 12% lower than what they experienced before. In the year of the breakup, the drop in living standards is greater for children living with their mothers, equal to -25%, compared to those living with their fathers, whose living standards fall by 11%. In the following years, however, the gap narrowed.

Several elements allow you to limit the financial consequences

The reasons for these alarming figures are quite simple: “ This is a consequence of the labor market, mothers’ salaries are lower than those of fathers », explained the authors of the study Carol Bonnet AND Anna Solaz, during a press conference. Before the separation” mothers do not necessarily work or work part time, the loss of the spouse’s income is therefore more serious “.

Read also: Otherone in five children lives in poverty in rich countries, according to theUnicef

However, several factors mitigate the declining standard of living of these children. Starting from the social assistance system for low-income families: their main parent often benefits from social assistance, such as family allowances, a higher activity bonus or an increased RSA.

Food also mitigates the effects for children from advantaged backgrounds. These can represent a significant share of resources » of the custodial parent of the children, the study finds. The recomposition of the custodial parent is also a factor that reduces this decline in living standards. But only 30% of children are affected, and this occurs six years after the parents’ separation.

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