DO MOMS AND DADS MATTER?

Evidence From the Social Sciences on Family Structure and the Best Interests of the Child
Maggie Gallagher and Joshua K. Baker

As the law has become more committed to “the best interests of the child” standard to guide family law, it has become increasingly common for judges and legal scholars to use evidence provided by studies conducted in the social science field as support for legal judgments and standards in family law. An accurate assessment of social science evidence is therefore critical. A substantial body of evidence suggests that family structure matters and that children do better, on average, when they are raised by the household of their own married mother and father. Considerable damage can be done to children by making legal policy based on preliminary and inadequate social science research. Legal scholars should proceed with caution before advocating changes in family law based on the assumption that family structure does not matter to a child’s well-being.

Read entire study at: http://www.marriagedebate.com/pdf/Do_Moms_Dads_Matter.pdf