Prebirth predictors of coparenting experiences in early infancy

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of the current research was to identify prebirth predictors of coparenting experiences during the transition to parenthood. Questionnaires were used to assess 101 couples during the third trimester and one, three, and six months after the birth of the first child. Results of hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated different predictors of coparenting level, linear change, and fluctuation for mothers and fathers. For mothers, coparenting experiences were associated with age, paternal education, concerns around child rearing, differences in child-rearing philosophy, and reactance, whereas for fathers, coparenting experiences were related to occupation, maternal ego development, coparenting in the family of origin, and both parents' motivation to raise children. There were indications that mothers may drive the development of the coparenting relationship for both parents.RESUMEN: La meta de la investigación actual fue la de identificar puntos que pudieran predecir antes del nacimiento las experiencias de una crianza compartida durante la transición al momento de tener hijos. Se usaron algunos cuestionarios para evaluar a 101 parejas durante el tercer trimestre y los meses 1, 3 y 6 después del nacimiento del primer hijo. Los resultados de un análisis de modelos lineales jerárquicos indicaron diferentes puntos de predicción de los niveles de crianza compartida, el cambio lineal, así como la fluctuación entre madres y padres. En el caso de las madres, las experiencias de una crianza compartida estuvieron asociadas con la edad, la educación paterna, las preocupaciones acerca de cómo criar a los niños, las diferencias en cuanto a la filosofía de la crianza, y las reacciones; en tanto que para los padres, las experiencias de una crianza compartida estuvieron relacionadas con la profesión, el desarrollo del amor propio maternal, la crianza compartida llevada a cabo en la familia original, y los motivos que ambos padres tienen para criar los hijos. Hubo indicaciones de que las madres pudieran ser quienes toman las riendas en el desarrollo de las relaciones de una crianza compartida para ambos padres.RÉ SUMÉ : Le but de nos recherches était d'identifier des facteurs de prédiction d'expériences de coparentage durant la transition à la condition de parent, ceci avant la naissance de l'enfant. Des questionnaires ont été utilisés pour évaluer 101 couples durant le troisième trimestre de la grossesse et à 1, 3, 6 mois après la naissance du premier enfant. Les résultats d'analyses linéaires hierarchiques de modélisation ont indiqué différents facteurs de prédiction de niveau de coparentage, de changement linéaire, et de fluctuation pour les mères et les pères. Pour les mères, les expériences de coparentage étaient associées à l'âge, à l'éducation paternelle, aux inquiétudes concernant la façon d'élever l'enfant, aux différences de philosophie sur la manière d'élever l'enfant, et à la réactance. Alors que pour les pères, les expériences de coparentage étaient liées à la profession, au développement de l'égo ...

Growing Points for Coparenting Theory and Research

“…Studies that have disentangled coparenting and family group processes from husband-wife relationship systems (e.g., Bearss & Eyberg, 1998;Belsky & Hsieh, 1998;Floyd, Costigan, & Gilliom, 1998;Lindahl & Malik, 1999;McBride & Rane, 1998;McHale & Rasmussen, 1998;Schoppe-Sullivan, Mangelsdorf, Frosch, & McHale, 2004) have made fundamental contributions to this emerging field, and we encourage researchers working in this field to continue considering such distinctions. Indeed, in that wellfunctioning marital partnerships often set the stage for better coordinated coparenting partnerships Katz & Gottman, 1996;Katz & Woodin, 2002;Lewis, 1989;Lindahl & Malik, 1999;McHale, 1995;McHale, Kazali, et al, 2004;McHale, Khazan, et al, 2002;Van Egeren, 2003), researchers should look more closely at families that do and do not fit this general trend (e.g. Talbot & McHale, 2004).…”

“…In Weissman and Cohen's view, adults best able to successfully cooperate and collaborate in the shared raising of children would be those for whom both parents are invested in the child, value one another's involvement with the child, respect one another's judgments, and desire to communicate with one another. Very few studies have traced links between adult personality traits and coparenting at all, and those that have (Talbot&McHale, 2004;Van Egeren, 2003) have asked how individual personality traits might influence coparenting. But aside from studies examining how coparenting solidarity affects parenting behavior (e.g., Floyd et al, 1998;Margolin, Gordis, & John, 2001), investigators have not asked the reverse question-how having and raising children together might induce personality change and adult development.…”

“…Of currently available data on this topic, McHale (2003, 2004) and Van Egeren (2003) have identified as important the assimilative capacity, reactance, and psychological flexibility of parents-facets of individual personality styles likely to have ramifications for how capably the prospective parents will incorporate their child and their partner into an inclusive triadic family dynamic. Whether coparental solidarity ultimately comes to be fostered or hampered by characteristics such as ego resilience or reactance remains an open question, as does the arguably more compelling question of whether coparental solidarity can, over time, lead to enduring changes in adults' relational comfort and skill (Palm, 1993), or propensities to respond to extrafamilial stressors with greater (or lesser) flexibility or reactance.…”

Perfis de vinculação, coparentalidade e ajustamento familiar em pais recém-divorciados: diferenças no ajustamento psicológico

“…Adicionalmente, a investigação teórica e empírica têm filtrado um conjunto de componentes que operacionalizam a coparentalidade, tais como o acordo/solidariedade nos valores, princípios e regras de educação da criança, a divisão do trabalho, o conflito interparental, a proximidade emocional, o suporte/sabotagem da parentalidade e a gestão conjunta da família (Feinberg, 2003;Teubert & Pinquart, 2010;van Egeren, 2003;para revisão Lamela, Nunes-Costa, et al, 2010). A variação no conjunto destes componentes parece explicar o peso da coparentalidade na predição do funcionamento individual dos pais, das crianças e das famílias (Feinberg, 2003;McHale & Irace, 2011).…”

“…A variação no conjunto destes componentes parece explicar o peso da coparentalidade na predição do funcionamento individual dos pais, das crianças e das famílias (Feinberg, 2003;McHale & Irace, 2011). Apesar de uma forma não consistente, estudos anteriores têm demonstrado que a qualidade coparentalidade está positivamente associada a características sócio-demográficas dos pais, nomeadamente a idade, a educação e os recursos financeiros (Dush, Kotila, & SchoppeSullivan, 2011;Hilton & Devall, 1997;Stright & Bales, 2003;van Egeren, 2003;Yárnoz-Yaben, 2010b). Da mesma forma, o ajustamento psicológico dos pais parece estar correlacionado com a coparentalidade.…”