D4 Published development or research report or study

Parental separation and children’s education – changes over time?




AuthorsKailaheimo-Lönnqvist, Sanna; Jalovaara, Marika; Myrskylä, Mikko

Publication year2024

Series titleMPIDR Working Paper

Number in seriesWP 2023-036

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2023-036(external)

Web address https://doi.org/10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2023-036(external)

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/470923264(external)


Abstract

Objective and background
The association between parental separation and children’s education has been widely studied,
but mostly at a single time point, for one educational outcome at a time and for marital
dissolution only. We examine whether the (generally negative) association has changed across
cohorts for several educational outcomes and whether the association differs by parental union
type (marriage, cohabitation) and family background (parental education). Due to high rates of
separation, the association with children’s education could have weakened over time.

Methods
We use Finnish total population register data. We focus on child cohorts born between 1987
and 2003 (N=1,004,823) and analyse grade point averages, secondary education and tertiary
education using linear probability models with standard errors clustered within families.

Results and conclusion
The association between parental separation and educational achievement is negative and has
remained similar across the birth cohorts. Differences according to parental union type and
socioeconomic family background are small and do not exhibit changes over time. The stability
of the association over time suggests that the consequences of parental separation on children’s
education have not changed, even though attitudes towards separation may have changed.


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Funding information in the publication
The project was supported by the Strategic Research Council (SRC), FLUX consortium, decision numbers 345130 and 345131; by the Academy of Finland (decision 321264); by the National Institute on Aging (R01AG075208); by grants to the Max Planck – University of Helsinki Center from the Max Planck Society; by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation; by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki; by the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo; and by the European Union (ERC Synergy, BIOSFER, 101071773). The views and opinions expressed in the article are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.


Last updated on 2025-27-01 at 19:40