Cohabitation, marriage and relationship stability

A Goodman and E Greaves; Institute for Fiscal Studies

The report sets out to critically appraise the assertion in the government's State of the Nation report that cohabiting parents have an increased likelihood of separating relative to married couples. It concludes that marriage does not make relationships between parents more stable. The IFS analysis of data from the Millennium Cohort Study shows that while cohabiting parents are more likely to split up than married ones, there is little evidence that marriage per se is the cause of greater stability between parents, or that encouraging more people to get married would result in fewer couples splitting up. Parents who are cohabiting when their child is born are three times more likely to split up by the time their child is five than married parents (27% compared to 9%). However they are also typically younger, less well off, less likely to own their own homes, have fewer educational qualifications and are less likely to plan their pregnancies than married people. Once these differences between the two groups are accounted for, the difference in the likelihood of separation almost disappears (falling to 2 percentage points). The IFS analysis shows that relationship stability is mainly determined not by marriage but by other factors such as age, education, occupation and income, and delaying and planning pregnancy. These factors are also influential in whether people choose to marry or not. So while married couples have more stable relationships than couples who cohabit, this is not because they are married, but because of the other characteristics they have that lead to marriage.

The report can be downloaded from the IFS website.

July 2010

couple relationships, family break-up

Relationships Matter: Understanding the needs of adults (particularly parents) regarding relationship support

Department for Children, Schools and Families

The study was designed to inform the Government's policy commitment to support couple relationships, particularly those of parents, so as to enhance the quality of family life and minimise the risks for children associated with parental separation. The objective was to extend understanding of the issues and situations which cause stress in couple relationships and consider how couple relationships can be better supported. In spring 2009, the DCSF commissioned Newcastle University to lead a study of adult couple relationships. The study was undertaken in two phases. The first focused on couples whose relationship had broken down, resulting in separation, divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership; the second focused on couples in ongoing relationships of varying duration.

The report can be downloaded from the DCSF website.

March 2010

couple relationships, advice and information

The Registration of Births (Parents Not Married And Not Acting Together) Regulations 2010 - Consultation

Department for Children, Schools and Families

This consultation relates to arrangements for birth registration by unmarried parents, where they are not co-operating to register their child's birth together. The draft Regulations set out the detailed processes for registering births in these cases. They aim to ensure that - wherever possible - the names of both parents are registered.

The consultation can be downloaded from the
Department for Children, Schools and Families website. The closing date for responses is 2 February 2010.

November 2009

couple relationships

Our Family Our Future

Contact a Family

Families with disabled children have the same hopes and dreams as other families but often face bureaucracy and prejudice trying to achieve them. That's the finding of a new Contact a Family report Our family, our future which features the stories of 30 UK families whose children are affected by a range of disabilities and rare conditions. Contact a Family would like to see families with disabled children given the same opportunities as others and is calling for:

• Government to invest in a campaign to raise awareness of the needs of families with disabled children
• Stronger focus on disability awareness taught in early years and schools
• People working in a public facing role to be given disability and equality training – so that they can recognise the unique talents that children bring – because of their disability.

The report can be downloaded from the
Contact a Family website.

November 2009

disabled children, disabled parents, couple relationships

Children and families experiencing domestic violence: Police and social services' responses

N Stanley et al; University of Central Lanchaster and NSPCC

This research examined both the notification process itself and the subsequent service pathways followed by families brought to the attention of children's social services in this way. It also explored which other agencies contributed to services for families experiencing domestic violence and captured young people's, survivors' and perpetrators' views of services.

In England and Wales, the Adoption and Children Act 2002 amended the definition of significant harm provided by the Children Act 1989, adding a new category of "impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another".

Since domestic violence and children's exposure to it represent a widespread social problem, this amendment has acted to draw a potentially large group of families within the remit of children's social services. The growing mountain of police notifications to children's social services of domestic violence incidents where children are involved and the pressures that this has created have been noted by a range of commentators in the UK, North America and Australia.

The notification system has emerged against what is acknowledged to be a background of fragmented services for children and families experiencing domestic violence, and represents an attempt to improve communication and coordination between universal and highly targeted services.

The executive summary for this report is available from the NSPCC website .

September 2009

domestic abuse, couple relationships, family break up, safeguarding children

Every family matters: An in-depth review of family law in Britain

Centre for Social Justice

The recommendations from this review include:

• a three-month 'cooling-off' period before divorce
• more information provision for cohabiting couples about their rights rather than changing the legal basis of the relationship
• encouragement of marriage preparation courses
• Family Relationship Hubs, similar to Family Relationship Centres in Australia.
• mandatory attendance at an information provision meeting, to include a full explanation of Alternative Dispute Resolution, before commencing any form of family law proceedings
• more consideration of the role of grandparents, for example early

mediation between the parent with residence and a grandparent seeking contact

The report can be downloaded from the Centre for Social Justice
website.

July 2009

couple relationships, family break-up, family courts

Couple relationships: A review of the nature and effectiveness of support services

Y Chang and H Barrett; Family and Parenting Institute

This report identifies factors that contribute to both positive and negative couple relationships and outlines the range of services available for couples at different stages of relationship development. It describes a wide variety of approaches to couples support and therapy, including services designed to help couples in difficulty, for example, due to sexual problems, domestic violence or other problems. Finally, it weighs up what is known about the effectiveness of available services and makes recommendations about a number of strategies that might help increase the reach of services for couples.
The report is available from the FPI website.

June 2009

couple relationships

Increased funding for relationship support for parents and their children

At a 'relationship summit' Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced that there would be:

• increased resources to train a range of professionals to support new families;
• £60m for children and young people to access support such as counselling and peer mentoring through a schools based programme;
• pilots to better co-ordinate local support for separating couples
• a new online and phone service to bring together national services for children and parents

More information is available from the DCSF website.

December 2008

couple relationships, family break-up, separated parenting

Family Law Review: interim report

Centre for Social Justice

This is the interim report of the Family Law Review from the Centre for Social Justice. As such it sets out areas for further investigation rather than firm conclusions. These include the desire to encourage marriage rather than give more rights to cohabiting couples; fair financial distribution after divorce; the 'need for a father' in assisted reproduction; pre- and post-separation family support; and possible rights for grandparents in adoption procedures or contact after parents separate.

The report can be downloaded from the Centre for Social Justice website.

November 2008

couple relationships, family break-up, family courts, separated parenting

Second thoughts on the family

A de Waal; Civitas

This book is based on interviews with a range of opinion formers, and a survey about modern attitudes to marriage. The author states that both the Conservative and Labour parties have misunderstood the meaning of marriage in modern society. She argues that as people already want to marry, incentivising it through tax breaks is unnecessary and will be ineffective. Marriage signals, rather than generates, commitment. However its importance should be recognised in government policy since cohabitation rather than marriage is statistically linked to disadvantage and parental separation leads to poverty and disadvantage.

The policy recommendations focus on tackling the causes of poverty and recognising the responsibilities of fathers, from sharing maternity leave between men and women to enforcing financial responsibility for children once relationships end.

The book can be ordered from the Civitas website.

May 2008

couple relationships, family break-up, poverty

Growing together, or drifting apart? Children with disabilities and their parents' relationship

F Glenn; One Plus One

Parents of disabled children are at greater risk of marital problems, separation and divorce. This literature review looks at the factors that lie behind this, such as a lack of formal and informal support, and which couples will be more resilient. It promotes a whole family model of family functioning and well-being. Policy recommendations highlight the need for both better support services and relief of the financial pressures many families operate under.

The report is available from the One Plus One website.

October 2007

disabled children, couple relationships

Sole and joint birth registration: Exploring the circumstances, choices and motivations of unmarried parents

J Graham et al.; Department for Work and Pensions

This report is based on two research elements: quantitative analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) to investigate the characteristics of sole registrants compared to unmarried parents jointly registering; and qualitative in-depth interviews with 41 unmarried parents.

The findings from the quantitative research suggested high levels of disadvantage, for example a lack of antenatal care among lone registrants. The authors conclude that a legislative approach to promoting joint birth registration would be problematic because for some mothers, sole registration is seen as being in the best interests of the child, and because it will come too late, as the events and choices influencing the decision occur before the birth.

The report can be downloaded from the DWP website.

September 2007

couple relationships

Taxation of the Family

T Bowler; Institute for Fiscal Studies

In this discussion paper produced for the Tax Law Review Committee, the tax treatment of three couples in differing family contexts is examined: a married couple with two children under the age of 16; an unmarried couple in a stable and long term relationship with two children under the age of 16; and a family where the couple have recently formed a relationship and have children from different relationships. The discussion paper considers the tax treatment of the couples while the relationship is ongoing, after break-up and on the death of one of the couple. The paper concludes by considering the implications of current Government, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat policy.

The report can be downloaded from the IFS website.

June 2007

couple relationships, family break-up, tax and benefits

When Parents Part

E McManus; Young Voice

This research is based on a survey of 128 children and young people whose parents had split up. They were asked how well their parents communicated with them and with each other, and how much they were involved in decisions. The quality of the explanations young people were given about divorce-related matters was found to be significantly related to their subsequent well-being.

As part of the same project, a DVD and discussion guide were made by young people for separating parents and anyone working with families.

The research report and the DVD can be purchased from Young Voice website.

June 2007

couple relationships, family break-up

Breakthrough Britain: The next generation

Centre for Social Justice

This reports the findings of the Centre for Social Justice's Early Years Commission. It states that children's experiences in the earliest years of their lives strongly influence their futures across a wide range of measures. Recommendations include:

• an enhanced role for health visitors in intensive home visiting
• investment in relationship support and parenting education
• 'Family Services Hubs'
• the use of childcare tax credit to pay un-registered close relatives

The report can be downloaded from the Centre for Social Justice website.

September 2008

health visitors, childcare, couple relationships, Conservative Party

Childhood and Families Taskforce

Childhood and Families Taskforce

The Government has announced that the taskforce will be chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron and include senior ministers from across government. It will review access to play facilities and emotional support for families and children in the community as well as the sexualisation of children in marketing. The intended role of the group will be to identify and prioritise a small number of specific policy proposals that will make the biggest difference to children and families. Other linked concerns include childhood obesity, bullying and mental health problems among young people. A strong focus is the increased role charities and local community groups can play in supporting families. The taskforce aims to complete its review by the autumn ahead of the next public spending review.

More information about the Taskforce can be found on the Cabinet Office website.

June 2010

couple relationships

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990

HFEA

The revised Act is the single greatest change to affect the UK fertility sector in nearly two decades. The changes brought in by the revised Act, with effect from 1st October2009, include: donor conceived people and donors will have greater rights of access to information about their donor, their siblings or the children born as a result of their donation. Children conceived by egg or sperm donation will have the chance to find their biological siblings once they turn 18 if they both consent. Other changes which will come into effect with the new legislation include: increasing the length of time people can store their embryos; a 'cooling off' period if one partner withdraws consent for embryo storage; banning sex selection for non medical reasons, and; allowing female civil partners to be registered as the legal parents.

Details of the changes can be found on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority website.

October 2009

fathers, couple relationships

Fall in UK marriages

Provisional figures for 2005 show marriages falling in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for the first time in three years. In England and Wales marriages fell by 10 per cent in 2005 to 244,710, which is the lowest number of marriages since 1896.

A change in law from 1 February 2005 designed to discourage 'sham marriages' may have been one of many factors that contributed to the drop in the number of marriages in 2005.

In England and Wales, marriages that were the first for both parties in 2005 accounted for 60 per cent of all marriages.

The full statistics are available from the National Statistics website.

February 2007

family trends, couple relationships

What do we know about the impact of recessions on family relationships?

C James; Family and Parenting Institute

This study informs our understanding of the likely impact of the current crisis on family relations through a review of research on family functioning during other recessions in countries including the US, the UK and Finland. The report highlights the importance of the couple relationship in mediating the link between economic stress and the impact on parenting.

The report can be downloaded from the FPI website.

April 2009

couple relationships

Partnership transitions and mothers' employment

G Paull ; Department for Work and Pensions

This report presents findings from secondary analysis of the Families and Children Study (FACS) and British Household Panel Study (BHPS), measuring partnership dynamics amongst mothers and exploring the impact of partnership breakdown and (re)partnering on family employment status. Separations are shown to be associated with high exit rates from work, and partnering with entry into employment.

The report can be downloaded from the DWP website.

September 2007

Work-life balance, couple relationships, welfare to work