Examining parents' susceptibility: Coparenting relationships and parental involvement in low‐income families

Abstract

Objective This study investigated whether fathers' involvement in play with young children was more susceptible than mothers' involvement to coparenting relationships in low‐income families and examined child gender and fathers' residential status as moderators of susceptibility. Background Parental involvement in developmentally appropriate and stimulating activities benefits young children. The coparenting relationship plays an important role in shaping parental involvement, and its impact may be stronger for fathers, rendering fathers more susceptible. Method Data were drawn from 4606 families in the Building Strong Families project. Mothers and fathers reported coparenting relationship quality and involvement in play with children at 15‐ and 36‐month follow‐up studies. Cross‐lagged panel models were used incorporating actor‐partner interdependence. Results Overall, fathers' involvement was more strongly affected by coparenting relationship quality than mothers' involvement. Elevated susceptibility to coparenting did not apply to all fathers. The involvement of fathers of girls (vs. fathers of boys) and non‐resident fathers (vs. resident fathers) was more strongly affected by fathers' perceptions of coparenting. The actor effect from coparenting to involvement was stronger for fathers than mothers in families with non‐resident fathers. No significant differences were found in partner effects. Conclusion This study reveals that parents' susceptibility is multiply determined and highlights the importance of considering the interrelated nature of family subsystems. Intervention programs targeting parenting and coparenting should spare more efforts to involve fathers, especially those whose engagement in parenting may be most susceptible to family processes.

Mother-father and parent-grandmother coparenting conflict and caregiver involvement in adolescent parent families

“…In the current study, adolescent fathers were consistently influenced by the dynamics of their coparenting dyads, both within and between dyads. Past research suggests that the father role is less defined, leaving fathers more susceptible to influence (McRae et al, 2021; Pleck, 2010; Wang et al, 2022). Our results suggest that, as adolescent fathers navigate coparenting relationships within the M-F and P-G subsystems, it is possible that the ambiguity of their role as fathers extends across these subsystems.…”

“…For example, among heterosexual adult parents, mothers devote more time to their children than fathers (Cabrera et al, 2018) and are seen as the primary parent whose gatekeeping behaviors have a significant influence on father's level of involvement (Schoppe-Sullivan et al, 2008). In contrast, fathers' roles are theorized to be more multifaceted and ambiguous (Pleck, 2010), suggesting that fathers' less defined boundaries lead to higher malleability and more susceptibility to social relationship dynamics (Cummings et al, 2010), including coparenting conflict and caregiver involvement (Wang et al, 2022). In support of this idea, scholars have found coparenting conflict spilled over to more negative parent-child interactions for fathers but not for mothers (McRae et al, 2021), and coparenting quality was linked over time to reduced father involvement only, especially among non-residential fathers (Wang et al, 2022).…”

“…In contrast, fathers’ roles are theorized to be more multifaceted and ambiguous (Pleck, 2010), suggesting that fathers’ less defined boundaries lead to higher malleability and more susceptibility to social relationship dynamics (Cummings et al, 2010), including coparenting conflict and caregiver involvement (Wang et al, 2022). In support of this idea, scholars have found coparenting conflict spilled over to more negative parent-child interactions for fathers but not for mothers (McRae et al, 2021), and coparenting quality was linked over time to reduced father involvement only, especially among non-residential fathers (Wang et al, 2022). Although the extant literature on adult coparents suggests father involvement might be more susceptible to coparenting dynamics compared to mothers, no studies have explored how coparenting conflict and caregiver involvement interrelate differently for adolescent mothers and fathers.…”

Do associations between coparenting relationships and parenting behaviors differ for new mothers and fathers?

“…Therefore, fathers in our sample may not have been particularly vulnerableor at least not more vulnerable than mothers-to the quality of coparenting relationships. But the results may be different for fathers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds or marginalized populations (e.g., Wang et al, 2023). Future studies should test the father vulnerability hypothesis in samples that differ in contextual resources.…”

Persepsi dan Makna Pembaharuan Janji Perkawinan terhadap Keutuhan Perkawinan oleh Pasutri Katolik

“…Secara terus menerus suami-istri harus berusaha menjaga dan melestarikan rumah tangga yang harmonis dan penuh cinta, sehingga keluarga menjadi surga bagi anakanak yang dikaruniakan Tuhan. Selain itu, keluarga dipandang sebagai komunitas dan surga bagi suami istri dan anak-anak, juga families consist of interconnected individuals and relationships that exert mutual influence on each other (Wang et al, 2023). Dalam buku Pedoman Pastoral Keluarga (KWI, 2011), Gereja adalah "ibu dan guru" (mater et magistra) bagi keluarga Katolik.…”