New Fathers’ Perceptions of Dyadic Adjustment: The Roles of Maternal Gatekeeping and Coparenting Closeness

Abstract

Although the association between maternal gatekeeping and relationship functioning has been explored by a few studies, none of these have focused on fathers' perceptions of these constructs. Given that today's new fathers are challenged by elevated expectations for active parenting and coparenting even as most new mothers remain primary caregivers of infant children, this is a critical omission. This study examined the associations between new fathers' perceptions of maternal gatekeeping and change in dyadic adjustment as mediated through coparenting closeness. Maternal gatekeeping was reported by 182 fathers at 3 months postpartum, coparenting closeness was reported at 3 and 6 months postpartum, and dyadic adjustment was reported during the third trimester of pregnancy and at 9 months postpartum. Fathers' perceptions of relative change in coparenting closeness from 3 to 6 months mediated associations between fathers' perceptions of maternal gatekeeping at 3 months and relative change in dyadic adjustment from the third trimester to 9 months postpartum. In particular, findings indicate that greater perceived maternal gate opening was associated with higher levels of dyadic adjustment through higher levels of coparenting closeness, whereas greater perceived maternal gate closing was associated with lower levels of dyadic adjustment through lower levels of coparenting closeness. This study highlights the importance of studying fathers in the context of the family system and the role of the coparenting relationship at the transition to parenthood in couple relationship functioning.

Custodial Single Fathers before and during the COVID-19 Crisis: Work, Care, and Well-Being

“…Poor coparenting relationships can intensify maternal gatekeeping, which is known to already increase with divorce and separation (Fagan 2020;Puhlman and Pasley 2013). Mothers' negative beliefs of men's ability to parent demonstrated through discouragement and control significantly inhibit father's involvement (Allen and Hawkins 1999;Olsavsky et al 2020), which has important implications for the father-child relationship. Unsupportive and antagonistic coparenting relationships can undermine father identity and commitment to fathering (Adamsons and Pasley 2013).…”

The Evolution of Fathering Research in the 21st Century: Persistent Challenges, New Directions

“…Recently, Altenburger, Schoppe‐Sullivan, and Kamp Dush () showed that greater maternal gate closing was associated with greater relative declines over time in the observed quality of fathers' parenting behavior with their infants, indicating the potential for maternal gate closing behavior to not only affect the amount of time fathers spend with children or the frequency of their engagement but also the quality of father–child relationships, which has been more closely linked to child development outcomes than quantity of paternal engagement (Pleck, ). Greater maternal gate closing has also been linked to fathers' perceptions of poorer adjustment in the couple relationship via feelings of less closeness in coparenting (Olsavsky, Yan, Schoppe‐Sullivan, & Kamp Dush, ).…”

“I believe it’s important for kids to know they havetwoparents”: Parents’ experiences of equally shared parental leave in Sweden

“…This is in line with how motherhood was described by Elvin-Nowak (1999), characterized by the combination of overall responsibility and guilt. The strategy of not preventing the father's initiatives seems to correspond to the concept of "gate opening behaviour," highlighting the importance of mothers stepping back and being less protective in order to enable increased paternal involvement (Olsavsky et al, 2019). At the same time, letting go of responsibility contradicts the traditional role of mothers (Elvin-Nowak & Thomsson, 2001).…”

“…Fathers' involvement in childcare has turned out to have a positive influence not only on fathers themselves but also on their families, including on the child's social, behavioral and psychological development and well-being (Plantin et al, 2011). Both fathers' early engagement and positive attitudes toward paternal involvement are related to a more equal sharing of responsibilities within families, and are related to mothers' positive attitudes toward fathers' initiatives in terms of "gate opening behaviour" (Olsavsky et al, 2019).…”