Today, ten Swedish children live between the ages of 12 and 15 alternately with both their parents. There are many conditions that affect how the alternate housing works and how the children feel. For example, it is important that practical circumstances such as proximity to school and friends work. The dissertation also shows that it is important that the children are listened to and allowed to make decisions when it comes to how the exchange housing is arranged.

- Many of the children who participated in the study had a strong desire to share everyday life with both parents, but only if they did not have a close and good relationship with each of them. If the relationship with one of them was bad, the impetus to live alternately disappeared, says Rakel Berman, author of the dissertation and Ph.D. in social work at the University of Gothenburg.

It may sound obvious that good parenting relationships lead to good well-being, but this thesis shows that it is a key to it working well. It has previously been assumed that children and parents need to live together full-time in order for them to maintain a close relationship. But in the study, where 20 children aged 9-17 were deeply interviewed, it appears that many spend more time with their parents after the divorce.

But keeping a good tone in a separation is not always easy.

- Deep conflicts between the parents not only resulted in a pressure for the child, but also in housing arrangements where the parents did not take into account the child's needs and wishes, says Rakel Berman.

Sweden is the country where exchange housing is most common, ie where the children live almost equally with both parents after a divorce.

- 30 years ago, the children often lived every other weekend with their father, but today it is most common to stay every two weeks with each parent. A very important reason, I think, is our gender equality policy. Today, Swedish fathers take a great deal of care compared to many countries in the world, says Rakel Berman.

Watch the video where researcher Emma Frans about myths and truths about divorce

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