Union dissolution has negative effect on the economic living conditions of single mothers and this has been empirically documented for many countries.

The current study focuses on the subjective assessment of the changes in economic wellbeing after divorce of single mothers in the Lithuanian context and gives particular attention to the differentiating role social class plays in the economic outcomes of divorce.

The study is based on the nationally representative survey “Single mothers and social exclusion in Lithuania” conducted in 2014.

Our descriptive analysis reveals that also almost half of divorced mothers consider their economic wellbeing as deteriorating, significant share declare no changes and a minority assess it as improved. Preliminary results of regression analysis reveal that significant predictors of the higher risk of perceived decrease in the economic wellbeing after divorce are associated with women’s and the former partners’ social class standing, the time elapsed after the divorce or union dissolution. Our preliminary findings show that women with the lowest social class standing have highest chances to assess their economic wellbeing as deteriorating. However, the contrary effect is observed for the former partner’s social class standing. Time elapsed after divorce is positively associated with the economic wellbeing.

Introduction: Data show that interpersonal relations are different in stepfamilies as compared to traditional families. Differences are observed in quality of stepparent’s involvement, in marital satisfaction and in frequency of child difficulties (Bray, 2005).

Study population: 50 non-clinical stepfamilies living together and having at least one child from a previous relationship (5 to 17 years old).

Method: A validated questionnaire assessed three specific interpersonal dynamics in stepfamilies: 1) stepparenting difficulties, 2) parenting difficulties, 3) social and family difficulties. Three other validated questionnaires assessed the quality of the marital relationship, of the coparenting relationship and child behavioral and emotional problems.

Hypotheses: Difficulties on the three specific interpersonal dynamics in stepfamilies would relate to marital and coparenting distress as well as to a higher level of child behavioral and emotional problems

Results: Results showed an association between: (1) Stepparenting difficulties and marital distress for both stepparents (stepmothers: r = .618**, p =.006 ; stepfathers: r = .884**, p =.000); (2) Stepparenting difficulties and coparenting distress, for stepfathers (r =-.430*, p =.046); (3) Parenting difficulties and child difficulties (r = .570*, p =.014); (4) Social and family difficulties and child difficulties (r = .372, p = .018). A model of interaction (structural equation modeling - SEM) will be presented.

Conclusion: Difficulties in stepfamily dynamics were associated with other dimensions, such as marital and coparenting distress and child difficulties. These results indicate a probable spillover effect between different relational dynamics. Observational data will also be presented in order to further explore these specific dynamics.

Statistics suggest that lone mother families have become an increasingly vulnerable group in Sweden. Their standard of living is low compared to other families. The numbers who are on non-permanent employment contracts or unemployed have increased. Mothers with a lower education are particularly exposed. We have conducted a qualitative study with 39 Swedish lone mothers with different occupational and social backgrounds. This paper takes a deeper look at challenges faced by 16 working-class and low-income lone mothers. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the ways in which working conditions and economic resources impact on mothers’ opportunities to balance paid work and family. Mothers are seen as actors whose conduct is guided by cultural ideas about the right and proper way to be a mother and worker. Thematic analysis was used explore themes in the data. Results show that disjunctions between aspirations and access to means for their realization gave rise to conflicts and dilemmas. It also fostered feelings of guilt and shame. Lack of financial resources resulted in a sense of relative deprivation and significantly limited mothers’ opportunities to practice the kind of mothering they preferred. Facing the money–care dilemma, mothers could not effectively use some of the rights granted to Swedish parents, i.e. to reduce working hours and stay at home with sick children. To provide for the family they had to spend long hours at work, meaning less time to devote to their children. Inflexible jobs, nonstandard hours and temporary employment aggravated conflicts.

Family law is an important element of the institution of marriage: it determines the socially desired “rules of the game” within marriages and families and provides sanctions for deviant behavior. From a theoretical perspective, the introduction of unilateral divorce law is of particular interest as it leads to a redistribution of bargaining power between the partners. Thus, one can potentially expect more far-reaching socio-demographic consequences of this legal transition than only on divorce: Unilateral divorce law shifts normative demands and cultural orientations, which influence every interaction between (potential) partners concerning decisions on partnership formation, marriage, parenthood, division of labor, divorce, and remarriage.

Our contribution aims, firstly, on the elaboration and presentation of the theoretical importance of family law (using the concrete example of unilateral divorce law) for spousal interaction and, as a result, virtually all family demographic processes.

In addition, we present empirical evidence for the (unintended) social and demographic consequences of introducing unilateral divorce law, as it has occurred in most of Europe over the last decades. Using data from the “Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)” and particularly SHARELIFE and employing fixed-effects and event history analytic methods, we find that the introduction of unilateral divorce has increased the risk of divorce in Europe, particularly for parents. Moreover, we find evidence that unilateral divorce law has contributed to the increase in age of marriage, the expansion of female labor force participation and the decline of marital fertility.