The effects of joint legal custody on mothers, fathers, and children controlling for factors that predispose a sole maternal versus joint legal award

Findings from comparisons of joint and sole custody families that do not co ntrol for predivorce differences in demographic and family process variable s (factors that may predispose families to choose or be awarded joint custo dy) are of limited generalizability, since obtained group differences may b e attributable to predisposing (self-selection) factors, custody, or both. This study compared a random sample of 254 recently separated, not-yet-divo rced families on 71 predivorce variables that might plausibly differentiate between families awarded joint legal versus sole maternal custody. Twenty such factors were identified and controlled for in subsequent comparisons o f 52 sole maternal and 26 joint legal custody families 2 years postdivorce. Families with joint custody had more frequent father-child visitation, low er maternal satisfaction with custody arrangements, more rapid maternal rep artnering, and fewer child adjustment problems (net of predivorce selection factors). Moreover, these effects did not appear to be moderated by level of predecree parental conflict. No association between custody and fathers' compliance with child support orders was obtained.