Final answer:
Custodial and non-custodial parents share the same responsibility for their children's welfare, including financial and emotional support. Children's well-being post-divorce is influenced by the quality of their relationship with their parents, regardless of living arrangements. Parental presence is essential in a child’s upbringing, influencing their development and access to opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to custody arrangements, both custodial parents and non-custodial parents retain the same legal responsibility to support and care for their children. The primary difference lies in where the child resides most of the time - with the custodial parent. However, both parents are expected to contribute to the child's well-being, which includes financial support, emotional support, and maintaining a healthy parent-child relationship.
Despite different custody arrangements, including two-parent and single-parent households, the well-being of children after a divorce can be significantly affected by their proximity to and relationship with their parents. Parental influence remains critical for a child's adaptation to the changes. For example, studies suggest that boys who live with or have joint arrangements with their fathers typically show less aggression, while girls in similar situations with their mothers tend to be more responsible and mature.
This indicates that the presence of parents, regardless of the household structure, plays a vital role in a child's development. Whether in a two-parent household, with a divorced parent, or a never-married parent, various factors including age, education, income level, and the strength of the parent-child relationship, influence a child's opportunities and development.