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  <doc>
    <id>5968</id>
    <completedYear/>
    <publishedYear>2025</publishedYear>
    <thesisYearAccepted/>
    <language>eng</language>
    <pageFirst/>
    <pageLast/>
    <pageNumber>xii, 186</pageNumber>
    <edition/>
    <issue/>
    <volume/>
    <type>doctoralthesis</type>
    <publisherName/>
    <publisherPlace/>
    <creatingCorporation/>
    <contributingCorporation/>
    <belongsToBibliography>0</belongsToBibliography>
    <completedDate>2025-10-21</completedDate>
    <publishedDate>--</publishedDate>
    <thesisDateAccepted>2025-09-19</thesisDateAccepted>
    <title language="eng">The influence of family dynamics on the well-being of adults and children</title>
    <abstract language="eng">This cumulative dissertation examines how family dynamics—such as union dissolution, cohabitation, and repartnering—shape the well-being of adults and children in Germany and Colombia. It situates these family changes within broader social transformations across Europe and Latin America, emphasizing how socioeconomic inequality, gender norms, and cultural contexts influence diverse family structures. A distinctive contribution lies in integrating partnership quality and intimate partner violence (IPV) as key dimensions linking family dynamics to individual and child well-being.&#13;
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Drawing on both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, the dissertation presents five empirical analyses. The first study investigates how mothers’ partnership status and experiences of physical IPV during pregnancy are related to infant health in Colombia. Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), it finds that cohabiting and separated mothers face higher IPV risks, highlighting IPV as a critical determinant of family and child outcomes.&#13;
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The second study examines women’s economic independence and the risk of IPV during separation in Germany, using data from the German Family Panel (pairfam). Results show that employment and higher education reduce IPV risk, while women with minor children remain particularly vulnerable. The third study employs an intersectional approach to analyse divorce and mental health in Germany. Results show that women are more likely than men to receive a mental health diagnosis following divorce, especially at older ages, and that low income increases the likelihood of mental illness for both men and women.&#13;
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The fourth study explores how partnership quality and separation relate to parental mental health, showing that separation can relieve depression for those leaving low-quality partnerships but may exacerbate it for fathers exiting high-quality ones. The fifth study assesses how family structure and parental partnership quality affect children’s socio-emotional well-being, finding that children in stepfamilies report greater difficulties, although higher parental esteem mitigates some negative effects.&#13;
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Together, these findings underscore the complex interplay between family structures, partnership quality, and well-being. The dissertation calls for policies that promote gender equality, prevent IPV, and support families through transitions to enhance both adult and child well-being.</abstract>
    <identifier type="doi">10.48462/opus4-5968</identifier>
    <identifier type="urn">urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-59685</identifier>
    <note>Parts of the dissertation have been published:&#13;
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Chapter 2&#13;
Molina, S. (2025). Unmarried motherhood and infant health: The role of intimate partner violence in Colombia. Demographic Research, 52, 141–178. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2025.52.6&#13;
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Chapter 3&#13;
Molina, S., Wagner, L., &amp; Kreyenfeld, M. (2025). Women’s economic independence and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) during separation. PLOS ONE, 20(6), e0326529. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326529&#13;
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Chapter 4&#13;
Molina, S., Alonso-Perez, E., &amp; Kreyenfeld, M. (2025). Divorce and Mental Health: Is Late Divorce Particularly Harmful for Women with Low Earnings? Social Indicators Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-025-03721-8</note>
    <note>Shelf mark: 2025D009; 2025D009+1</note>
    <enrichment key="opus.source">publish</enrichment>
    <licence>Creative Commons - CC BY - 4.0 International</licence>
    <advisor>Michaela Kreyenfeld</advisor>
    <author>Stefania Molina</author>
    <submitter>Terri Sullivan</submitter>
    <advisor>Anette Eva Fasang</advisor>
    <advisor>Albert Esteve Palós</advisor>
    <series>
      <title>Dissertations submitted to the Hertie School</title>
      <number>09/2025</number>
    </series>
    <collection role="HertieResearch" number="">Publications PhD Researchers</collection>
    <thesisPublisher>Hertie School</thesisPublisher>
    <thesisGrantor>Hertie School</thesisGrantor>
    <file>https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-hsog/files/5968/Dissertation_Molina.pdf</file>
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