One of the most highly debated and emotionally charged issues in parenting involve custody and timesharing arrangements.  As if the end of a relationship (through separation, divorce or paternity) isn’t stressful enough, not knowing the long-term effects it may have on the children is no less than daunting.  There is ongoing debate as to which type of timesharing arrangements are (generally) best for children.  Most people would agree that the level of ongoing acrimony between the parents likely plays a role in determining children’s emotional well-being and health in custody arrangements.  In other words, if parents are always at odds, the children suffer.  Additionally, children are different, what may work for children in one family, may not in another. 

But, what about timesharing?  What arrangement (typically) benefits children the most?  Many states, including Florida, have embraced that each parent plays a critical role in the lives of their children and, as such, 50/50 timesharing is becoming more and more prevalent.  In a new study, published April 28, 2015 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, researchers used data of over 140,000 children in grades 6 and 9 living with intact nuclear families;  with 50/50 timesharing; and ones living with only one or mostly only one parent.  The results showed that although the children in intact nuclear families faired best, the children residing with each parent reported less psychosomatic problems including sleep, attention, mood and other health problems than those who live with only or mostly one parent.  As with most studies, more research is necessary, but these findings seem to support the benefits of a 50/50 timesharing arrangement. Again, there are many factor at play and schedules need to take in those individual differences.  See the research below.

http://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2015/04/09/jech-2014-205058.short?q=w_jech_ahead_sidetab

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/the-divorce-custody-arrangement-that-benefits-kids-117628597472.html