Parental divorce and permanent separation were covered in a combined question. Thus, any difference in effects of legal divorce compared to permanent separation cannot be determined. However, such differences are likely to be small when the event occurs during early childhood when respondents could not likely understand the legal difference. Also, it is possible that some of the children may never have known one or both of their parents. However, it was made clear to respondents that all questions regarding parents in the interview referred to the male and female head of households with whom respondents were raised.
