Children with separated parents at greater risk of behavioural problems, says new study

Children of separated parents are more likely than those from intact families to have problems with their health, education and emotional wellbeing at age 13, a new ESRI report says.

The report draws on data from the Growing Up In Ireland longitudinal study, based on interviews with more than 7,400 young people and their families when the children were 13 years old in 2012, and when they were nine years old in 2007/08. It exposes considerable differences in childhood experiences and outcomes depending on family background.

Children who were growing up in one-parent families and those who came from families with lower levels of maternal education, were more likely than others to be classified as being at risk of socio-emotional and behavioural problems. Specifically, the report says, ‘Parental separation between 9 and 13 years of age was associated with double the chance of the 13-year-old being classified as being at risk of socio-emotional and behavioural problems (21% compared to 10% of those not experiencing parental separation)’.

The report was launched on Wednesday.