Parents Wanted: Help Shape Research on Family Life After Separation
Separation and divorce brings many challenges for families. It is one of the most stressful events that a person will experience in life and the emotional challenges can be particularly difficult for children. At Family Law in Partnership, we are committed to a child-centric approach and empower parents to form positive co-parenting relationships wherever possible.
It is against this backdrop that we are pleased to share an important new study led by Dr Sarah Foley, exploring family life and children’s wellbeing after separation.
Dr Foley is a Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at the University of Edinburgh and is keen to hear from families who have made shared-care arrangements for their child(ren) without involving the Courts.
We spoke to Dr Foley who commented:
“Despite the growing number of parents sharing care (e.g., 2-3 days a week, alternating weeks), very little UK research has been done which looks at family relationships and child wellbeing in these arrangements. This study aims to increase the understanding of family life, provide co-parenting families with a chance to learn about other families in similar situations and inform policy and practice”.
The study seeks parents of children aged 4–8 who have been separated for at least six months, live in Scotland or England, and have regular contact with their children. Participation involves a confidential online interview and survey, with optional child-friendly activities.
By taking part, parents can contribute to research that helps inform better support for families navigating separation.
Parents may take part until March 2026 when the study will be closed for findings.
For more information or to get involved, visit:
https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7NTbHGYUwglLQAm
For direct questions, Dr Sarah Foley can be contacted at sarah.foley@ed.ac.uk.
