Family dissolution, family reconstitution, and children's educational careers: recent evidence for Sweden

Family separation has a negative impact on the educational achievements of children at age 16, compared with children from intact families, according to a study of Swedish data. Attainment is affected by downward social mobility, possibly more so than economic deprivation. The increased time constraints of the custodial parent does not appear to be a key factor in the negative effect, while the child's aspirations could decline when the better-educated parent with the higher social position leaves.