Longitudinal associations between relationship quality and coparenting across the transition to parenthood: A dyadic perspective.

Abstract

The couple and coparenting relationship are theorized to influence one another in a reciprocal manner over time. Empirical evidence demonstrates cross-sectional associations between the two as well as prospective predictions of coparenting by relationship quality and vice versa. However, less is known about the longitudinal reciprocity between the couple relationship and coparenting from the perspective of both parents. The current study sought to examine longitudinal associations between relationship quality and coparenting support/undermining across the transition to parenthood from a dyadic perspective. Participants were 164 cohabitating heterosexual couples expecting their first child assessed during pregnancy and at 6 and 36 months after birth. Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM) was used to examine, for both men and women, (1) stability over time in relationship quality and coparenting; (2) reciprocal associations between relationship quality and coparenting support/undermining; as well as (3) the gender differences in those associations. Moderate rank-order stability in relationship quality and coparenting support/undermining across the first three years of parenthood was demonstrated. For women, but not men, findings suggested longitudinal reciprocal associations between relationship quality and coparenting support/undermining. Specifically, our findings suggested that prenatal relationship quality sets the stage for coparenting functioning after birth for both men and women but that coparenting functioning is then connected to subsequent feelings about the romantic relationship only for women.

His, hers, or theirs? Coparenting after the birth of a second child.

“…Our findings were somewhat dissimilar to Le et al’s (2016) transition to first-time parenthood study that found effects of prenatal marital quality on perceived undermining coparenting 6 months after the birth of a first child. However, Le et al focused solely on reciprocal influences between marital quality and coparenting quality over time and did not consider additional predictors such as children’s temperament or parents’ gender role beliefs.…”

“…There were no partner effects of cooperation, suggesting that parents are not likely to become more cooperative when their partners are more cooperative. Although Le et al (2016) found no evidence of partner effects of perceived coparenting support or undermining from 6 months postpartum to 3 years postpartum for first-time parents, partner effects may differ when predicting “negative” outcomes (i.e., hostility or conflict) in comparison to “positive” outcomes (i.e., cooperation and support) during stressful transition periods. According to theories of family stress, negative patterns of behavior between family members are likely to be amplified under stressful conditions (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983), as might be the case with the birth of a second child.…”

“…Another explanation is that the processes that contribute to coparenting cooperation or conflict unfold differently over time and across different parental transitions (e.g., first-time and second-time parenthood). Le and colleagues (2016) reported that both parents’ marital quality at 6 months postpartum predicted their perceived coparenting support three years later. But, when it came to predicting undermining coparenting, only mothers’ reports of marital satisfaction relationship quality at 6 months predicted her perceptions of undermining coparenting at 3 years; there was no association between fathers’ 6-month marital quality and 3-year perceived undermining coparenting.…”

“…For example, in a study on the transition to first-time parenthood, higher marital quality prior to the birth predicted greater perceived coparenting support and less perceived undermining coparenting for mothers and fathers (Le et al, 2016). In a study of marital quality and coparenting of toddlers, higher marital quality predicted greater coparenting support of mothers and fathers (Holland & McElwain, 2013).…”

Video-feedback intervention to improve parental sensitivity and the quality of interactions in mother-father-infant triads

“…From a systemic view, the various elements of a family system are connected, and there is an interrelation between the conjugal and parental subsystems [17]. In this sense, the literature shows the influence of the couple subsystem on the tasks associated with raising small children and on co-parenting [18], in addition to the influence of these variables on functioning [19].…”