Shared custody is seen as an ideal of equal coparenting without being chosen by most of separated parents. This paper addresses this apparent paradox by examining public opinion on children’s custody. A survey was conducted on a sample of 1,202 French and English-speaking Quebec residents aged 18 years and over. Data show that shared custody is generally regarded as the ideal custody arrangement. However, four profiles of opinions identified through a latent class analysis draw important distinctions on this matter. The socio-demographic differences and contrasts of beliefs and values related to child custody found by comparing these profiles provide some explanations for the diversity of postures.
Keywords
- Separation
- Divorce
- Child Custody
- Shared Custody
- Joint Custody
- Opinion Profiles
- Socio-Demographic Characteristics
- Quebec