Congratulations! By participating, you are contributing to a scientific study focused on children’s well-being. If you have any questions, please see the FAQ list below. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to ask us here.
Sinergia - Info for Participants
What happens with the information on my child once the study is finished?
At the end of the survey, we take all necessary measures designed to prevent your and your child (re)identification. The FamyCH anonymized and secure data are then transferred to the Swiss data archive SWISSUbase, that is compliant with the applicable data protection laws. The contact details are stored separately on a secure server. Once the project has been completed, all contact details will be permanently deleted.
Why are children 15 and over not included in the study?
FamyCH follows children’s families for 3 years and focuses on minor children so limiting at age 14 in 2024 will mean that these children will be aged no more than 17 in 2026. Please note: If your child was still 14 years old at the beginning of March 2024 (the month in which the addresses were drawn), your family is eligible.
How was my household selected to participate in this survey?
Your household was randomly selected by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office to form a representative sample of families in Switzerland with children aged 0 to 14 (age in March 2024). This helps ensure that the study’s results accurately reflect the diversity of family situations across the country.
Is my participation in the survey mandatory?
No, your participation is entirely voluntary. However, your participation is extremely valuable, as it helps us gathering complete and representative information on children and their families. Every response matters significantly to advancing research on the well-being of children in Switzerland.
How is the confidentiality of my responses ensured?
The confidentiality of your data is a priority for the FamyCH team. MIS Trend, the institute responsible for data collection, follows strict procedures to anonymize your responses, ensuring personal information is kept separate from research data. All information is handled and stored in compliance with Swiss data protection laws, and your responses will not be directly linked to you or your child.
Our DAUGHTER OR son is already 15 years old. The survey is for children aged 0 to 14. Do I have to complete the survey?
Yes, you can take part. The Federal Statistical Office has provided the sample for the survey in May 2024. As the survey was launched in November 2024, some children had their birthday between May and November. They were therefore in the correct age group.
I have received your questionnaire that seems to be addressed to families where the parents are divorced or separated. This is not our case, so should we participate?
Yes. The purpose of our research is to investigate differences regarding child well-being in different family forms, including separated/divorced families but also families without any separation. We would therefore be grateful if you could also take part in the survey, as it would help us to better understand those differences.
In 2022, about 13 000 children under 18 in Switzerland were involved in the separation or divorce of their parents. This results in Swiss children growing up within a diversity of custody arrangements and often residing across multiple homes. However, we still know very little about the stability of these arrangements and their impact on child well-being over time.
Understanding the impact of post-separation custody arrangements on child well-being is crucial for developing effective family policies and legal regulations. It provides empirical evidence to guide decisions affecting children in cases of union dissolutions.
In the FamyCH project, we will explore the well-being of children in different custody arrangements following separation or divorce, as well as in non-separated families. Our main goal is to better comprehend family relationships and to gain valuable insights into the factors that put children’s well-being at risk and those in Switzerland that promote resilience.
FamyCH comprises four studies that employ an interdisciplinary approach involving social demography, psychology, architecture, housing studies, and law. By investigating these crucial aspects together, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of their combined effects on child welfare.
If you have any questions about our research, feel free to contact us using the form in the Contacts section of the website.
We appreciate your interest in our research and look forward to contributing valuable insights to enhance child well-being in Switzerland!
– The FamyCH team