NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS - EMERGENT ISSUES OF DIVERSITY AND PROCESS

Beyond documentation of noncustodial fathers' failure to pay child sup port or visit, little is known about the dynamics of noncustodial pare nting. Even less is known about the experience of noncustodial mothers . Both of these noncustodial relationships need to be studied, as the data can inform us concerning the role of residential status in relati on to the quality of the parent-child relationships. This paper seeks to move beyond status-laden conceptualizations of parenthood which emp hasize deficiencies associated with noncustodial parenting situations, and examine specific constraints and opportunities inherent in such a rrangements. After divorce, noncustodial parents experience diversity and variation in the quality of relationships with their child(ren) an d former spouses. This diversity and variation also emerges in relatio n to economic circumstances for noncustodial parents. More progressive conceptualizations of parenthood are explored which focus on the qual ity of nonresidential parent-child relationships as well as how parent s implement parenting arrangements postdivorce. Recommendations for me thodologies which are sensitive to issues related to diversity and pro cess, as well as policy implications are offered.