Coparenting in Diverse Family Systems

McHale, James P.; Khazan, Inna; Erera, Pauline I.; Rotman, Tamir; DeCourcey, Wendy; McConnell, Melanie

doi:10.4324/9780429433214-4

Cited by 81 publications

(76 citation statements)

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“…In addition, the actor versus partner differences in maternal parenting may find support from the literature of coparenting (McHale et al, ). Quality of coordination with the spouse in his or her parental role is important for parents to provide qualified parenting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Marital Conflict Behaviors and Parenting: Dyadic Links Over Time

Gao

Davies

et al. 2018

Family Relations

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Objective To assess the effects of marital conflict on parenting practices for mothers and fathers and to examine whether these effects differ for within‐person and cross‐person links in parental dyads. Background Existing findings are mixed regarding the nature and magnitude of the association between marital conflict and childrearing behaviors. Little is known about parental role differences in this regard between fathers and mothers and the mutual influence on the other's responding. Method A sample of 235 families (fathers, mothers, and their kindergarten children) participated in the study over a 2‐year period. Fathers and mothers independently reported on constructive and destructive marital conflict tactics, as well as on their parenting behaviors in scenarios of children experiencing negative emotions. Results Results indicated cross‐person and within‐person relations. For example, fathers' destructive conflict predicted mothers' distress reactions to children's negative emotions, supporting a spillover hypothesis. Mothers' destructive conflict behaviors predicted less unsupportive maternal parenting, supporting a compensatory hypothesis. Conclusion Fathers' and mothers' marital conflict behaviors may have different implications for their own and their spouses' parenting. Implications Intervention and prevention programs that target improving marital conflict interactions may also help promote positive parenting. The findings also support that both fathers and mothers should be included in these programs to increase the beneficial effects on parenting practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Marital Conflict Behaviors and Parenting: Dyadic Links Over Time

Gao

Davies

et al. 2018

Family Relations

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“…The families of our sample were thus behaving in accordance with the idea that coparenting is teamwork, regardless of who the members of the team are (McHale et al, 2002). We focused on both modes of expression of coparenting, that is, overt and covert behaviors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the growing number of studies on the development of relationships in contemporaneous families in their diverse forms has shown that the coparenting construct may be applied to any and all adult teams engaged in the daily rearing and education of a child, the parent-stepparent duo being one of these teams in stepfamilies (Ganong & Coleman, 2017;McHale et al, 2002;Svare, Jay, & Mason, 2004). However, the growing number of studies on the development of relationships in contemporaneous families in their diverse forms has shown that the coparenting construct may be applied to any and all adult teams engaged in the daily rearing and education of a child, the parent-stepparent duo being one of these teams in stepfamilies (Ganong & Coleman, 2017;McHale et al, 2002;Svare, Jay, & Mason, 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The divorced parent-parent coparental relationship thus seems to most often have been implicitly considered as the only one that is meaningful for the child. However, the growing number of studies on the development of relationships in contemporaneous families in their diverse forms has shown that the coparenting construct may be applied to any and all adult teams engaged in the daily rearing and education of a child, the parent-stepparent duo being one of these teams in stepfamilies (Ganong & Coleman, 2017;McHale et al, 2002;Svare, Jay, & Mason, 2004). Indeed, the definition of coparenting fits with the functional agenda of the parent-stepparent relationship: Both partners have to coordinate regarding daily life with the child(ren) and bring each other instrumental and emotional support in family tasks.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mother‐Stepfather Coparenting in Stepfamilies as Predictor of Child Adjustment

2018

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Coparenting between biological parents is a strong predictor of child adjustment. To date, however, little is known about the coparenting dynamics between parent and stepparent in stepfamilies. This study aimed at exploring the links between coparenting in the mother-stepfather dyad and child behavior in stepfamilies compared with the links between mother-father coparenting and child behavior in first-marriage families. Two modes of coparenting were assessed: overt coparenting, that is, coparental behaviors in the presence of the child, and covert coparenting, that is, the way each parent speaks of the other parent to the child. The sample (N = 80) comprised 48 stepfamilies and 32 first-marriage families with a child between 7 and 13 years old. Overt coparenting was assessed through direct observation in the standardized situation of the PicNic Game. Covert coparenting and child behavior were assessed through mother-reported questionnaires. Results showed (a) more covert coparenting behaviors in first-marriage families, (b) no differences in overt coparenting, (c) more child difficulties reported in stepfamilies, (d) less optimal overt coparenting being linked with more difficulties in children in both family structures, and (e) an interaction effect between family structure and coparenting, showing that overt coparenting is linked with child behavior mainly in stepfamilies.

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“…Couple-level interventions that promote mutual engagement in positive health behaviors and bolster relationship quality among young pregnant couples could reduce health-risk behaviors. Higher relationship quality has also been associated with more supportive coparenting relationships, a critical factor for healthy child development (McHale et al, 2002) and for maintaining engagement in child rearing among young fathers (Fagan & Lee, 2011; Young & Holcomb, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smoking concordance during pregnancy: Are there relationship benefits?

Cornelius

Desrosiers

Kershaw

2017

Social Science & Medicine

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Objective Couples often engage in similar patterns of behavior, including substance use, and similarity may benefit relationship quality. Such relationship benefits may be especially salient for adolescent and young couples, whose relationships are often unstable and prone to breakups. This study examined the effect of mutual smoking during pregnancy on relationship quality in pregnant adolescent and young adult couples. Methods Couples (N=228; MAgeFemale=18.69; MAgeMale=21.12) were recruited from obstetrics/gynecology clinics in Connecticut from July 2007 to February 2011. Couples completed measures of recent smoking and relationship quality (i.e. satisfaction, affectional expression, cohesion, and consensus) during pregnancy and at six months postpartum. Data were analyzed using multilevel models to account for interdependence within dyads. Results Discrepant smoking patterns were associated with a reduction in satisfaction and cohesion over time (B=−1.14, p=.03, and, B=−2.74, p=.03, respectively), and a reduction in consensus over time for female participants, B=−1.98, p=.07, but not for male participants, p=.51. Discrepant smoking was not related to affectional expression, p=.11. Conclusions Results suggest relationship benefits concordant smoking patterns during pregnancy. Interventions should consider potential unintended relationship consequences of changing individual health behavior and instead work to develop couple-level health interventions.

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Coparenting in Diverse Family Systems

Cited by 81 publications

References 0 publications

Marital Conflict Behaviors and Parenting: Dyadic Links Over Time

Marital Conflict Behaviors and Parenting: Dyadic Links Over Time

Mother‐Stepfather Coparenting in Stepfamilies as Predictor of Child Adjustment

Smoking concordance during pregnancy: Are there relationship benefits?

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