Researchers at UCD have found there's virtually no difference in well-being between children of different family types, including step-families and single-parent families.

This study was carried out by UCD's School of Applied Social Science, where researchers looked at the circumstances of more than 8 and a half thousand 9 year old's.

The children were assessed on their reading and maths abiliities, physical health and their social-emotional adjustment.

Results showed that family type is not the over-riding influence on a child's well-being.

Instead, the evidence shows it's more important that the child has well-educated parents - particularly in the case of their mother - than parents who stay together.

79% of the children studied live with both their natural parents, 17.5% live with lone parents, and 3% are part of step-families.

The report's been launched today by Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald.