Dyadic Coping in Foster and Biological Parents and Its Relation to Child Psychopathology

Abstract

Abstract. This study investigated whether foster parents’ reports of their dyadic coping competencies differ from biological parents, whether there are differences with regard to the temporal associations between maternal and paternal dyadic coping in the two samples, and whether parental dyadic coping competencies predict future mental health problems in children. A total of 94 foster children and 157 children living in their biological families, both samples aged 2–7 years, as well as their (foster) parents were assessed three times over a 12-month period. The mothers’ and fathers’ dyadic coping competencies were assessed using the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI). Child psychopathology was assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a standardized clinical interview (Kinder-DIPS), both mainly based on maternal report. Foster parents reported better dyadic coping competencies across the three assessments than did biological parents. There were no significant differences with regard to the temporal associations between mothers’ and fathers’ report over time between the two samples. Cross-lagged panel models yielded a high within person stability across the three assessments for both, mothers and fathers (actor effects), as well as some significant interpersonal effects primarily from paternal to maternal dyadic coping (partner effects). In contrast to the expectation, mothers’ and fathers’ dyadic coping did not predict child mental health problems at the third assessment. The results make an important contribution to the research on dyadic coping and on how child mental health problems affect parental dyadic coping competencies and vice versa.

Couples’ dyadic coping in the context of child-related stressors: A systematic review across three decades.

“…Interestingly, when looking at the relation between DC and child outcomes, no associations between DC and child mental health was found nor were child mental health problems prospectively predicted by parental DC (Job et al, 2019).…”

“…Only few studies in the current review have taken child outcomes into account (Job et al, 2019; Körner et al, 2013; Zemp et al, 2019). In some studies, DC was not related to child outcomes, like child metabolic control when dealing with diabetes (Körner et al, 2013) or child mental health (internalizing and externalizing behavior; Job et al, 2019).…”

“…Only few studies in the current review have taken child outcomes into account (Job et al, 2019; Körner et al, 2013; Zemp et al, 2019). In some studies, DC was not related to child outcomes, like child metabolic control when dealing with diabetes (Körner et al, 2013) or child mental health (internalizing and externalizing behavior; Job et al, 2019). However, several studies by Zemp et al (2014, 2016, 2019) found beneficial associations between parental DC and child adjustment (internalizing and externalizing behavior and prosocial behavior).…”

How Anxious are German Preschool Children?

“…The sample consisted of 94 children living in foster and 157 children living in their biological families (e.g. [49][50][51]). In total, 251 parents (mostly mothers) reported about their child (in foster care) completing the PAS.…”

Dyadic coping trajectories across the transition to parenthood: Associations with child mental health problems.

“…A large body of literature found that parental negativity is associated with more child mental health problems (Cummings & Davies, 2010;Giallo et al, 2021), but the role of positive interparental interactions (i.e., dyadic coping [DC]) in promoting child well-being has been investigated more recently (Job et al, 2019;Skinner et al, 2021;Zemp et al, 2016Zemp et al, , 2018. DC is defined in the systemic-transactional model of stress (Bodenmann, 1995b(Bodenmann, , 1997(Bodenmann, , 2005 as the interpersonal process through which couples jointly cope with stress.…”