Elke Claessens
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Elke Claessens currently holds multiple roles at the University of Antwerp as a post‑doctoral researcher, guest professor, and part‑time academic staff member within the Center for Population, Family and Health and the Faculty of Social Sciences. As a lecturer, she teaches Applied Multivariate Analysis, Family Dynamics and Sociology within the Bachelor's and Master's programs of Sociology and Socioeconomic Sciences. Her doctoral research examined the objectification of child‑support determination in Belgium, with particular attention to shared care arrangements after parental separation.
Since then, Elke's work has expanded to encompass quantitative and qualitative studies on divorce, co‑parenting and child custody within large-scale research projects. She is currently involved in the ERC‑funded “Singleton” project which investigates singlehood trajectories among young adults.
Elke Claessens joins Paris IAS in February 2026 for a group research stay as part of the CAT collaborative program, with the lead of Elyakim Kislev and in collaboration with the researchers Keren Eisen, Alexandra Fisher, Donna Ward and Zhe Zhang.
Researchs topics
Singlehood; Separation and divorce; Child support; Custody;
Singlehood: Trends, Needs, and Social Policy
Over recent decades, the world has witnessed a notable rise in singlehood, with an increasing number of individuals opting to live without a long-term romantic partner. This global shift reflects broader social changes, including urbanization, the rise of the welfare state, advancements in women's rights, increased longevity, and the impact of technological innovations, particularly in communication and reproductive health.
Despite the growing prevalence of singlehood, current policies are still largely designed around traditional family structures, often neglecting the unique needs of single individuals.
Social policies, tax systems, and legal frameworks frequently disadvantage singles, who may face higher taxes, limited access to social security benefits, and inadequate workplace policies that fail to account for their specific caregiving needs and life choices. This lack of policy consideration exacerbates social inequalities and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by single individuals.
This project aims to promote a more inclusive approach to policy development by ensuring that the voices and experiences of single individuals are considered in the policymaking process. By providing tools to assess and compare how different countries or regions address the needs of single people, the results can help to identify best practices and encourage the adoption of policies that improve the quality of life for this often-overlooked demographic.
This project aims to promote a more inclusive approach to policy development by ensuring that the voices and experiences of single individuals are considered in the policymaking process. By providing tools to assess and compare how different countries or regions address the needs of single people, the results can help to identify best practices and encourage the adoption of policies that improve the quality of life for this often-overlooked demographic.
Key publications
Claessens, E., De Smedt, L., Mortelmans, D., Pacolet, J., Swennen, F., Van den Sande, J., & Vielfont, H. Haalbaarheidsstudie betreffende een universeel en automatisch alimentatiestelstel, Claessens, E., De Smedt, L., Mortelmans, D., Pacolet, J., Swennen,
Mortelmans, D., Claessens, E., & Thielemans, G. "Defining and measuring singlehood in family studies". Journal of Family Theory & Review, 15(3), 485-505, 2023.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12520
Claessens, E., & Mortelmans, D. "Challenges for child support schemes: Accounting for shared care and complex families". Journal of European Social Policy, 28(3), 211-223, 2018.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1177/0958928717753592
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