Research by Dr Tina Haux into how separation impacts and interrupts parenting
Dr Haux, Lecturer in Social Policy, conducted the Nuffield Foundation project with Professor Lucinda Platt of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Their research showed that men who are more involved in raising their children before separation are not more likely to be in contact with their children post separation. However, where the fathers are in contact they are more likely to see their child more often and more likely to have the child stay overnight if they had been involved in activities such as reading stories, going to the park, etc. prior to separation. Furthermore, the confidence of mothers in her abilities as a parent was affected by separation (though mediated by mental health and child behavioural problems) and did not recover after separation.
Read more about how the research was conducted and further findings in the Guardian online article ‘Fathers see sons more than daughters after break-up’ or the project page on the Nuffield Foundation website.