Prenatal Representations of Coparenting Among Unmarried First‐Time African American Mothers

Abstract

Results of semistructured interviews with 45 pregnant unmarried first-time African American mothers indicated a wide range of expectancies concerning the coparenting relationship they would develop with others once their baby arrived. Most common coparenting systems projected by respondents involved maternal grandmothers and/or the babies' fathers, though other caregivers were explicitly anticipated in a smaller number of cases. Multiperson coparenting systems were the norm, and only 2 of 45 respondents anticipated that they would be entirely on their own with no coparental system whatsoever. Qualitative analyses of mothers' narratives about postbaby coparenting systems revealed five main constructions: having thought about and anticipating coparenting, positive in outlook; having thought about and anticipating coparenting, but with mild concerns (conflict, unreliability); having thought about coparenting and anticipating limited or no support; having thought about coparenting and anticipating significant conflict and nonsupport; and having not thought much about coparenting, being neither focused on nor worried about this issue. Illustrations of each of these types are provided, and directions for family science and practice are discussed.

Coparenting Experiences in African American Families: An Examination of Single Mothers and their Nonmarital Coparents

“…As such, instead of focusing on father involvement or lack of involvement in the coparenting role, this study aims to highlight the realities of the diverse coparenting alliances that evolve in many African American single‐mother families and the impact of these diverse alliances on youth externalizing problems (Burton & Hardaway, ; Carlson & Hognas, ; Gaskin‐Butler, Engert, Markievitz, Swenson, & McHale, ; McHale, Waller, & Pearson, ; Roy & Burton, ). Importantly, the coparenting literature does not specify that a romantic or marital relationship is inherent or even implied in the coparenting construct (McHale & Lindahl, ).…”

Even with the Best of Intentions: Paternal Involvement and the Theory of Planned Behavior

“…However, owing to shifts in the broader society related to women's increased participation in the labor market and public policies and initiatives promoting “responsible fatherhood,” fathers are being encouraged to take more active roles in their children's affective growth and development (Lamb & Tamis‐Lemonda, ). Specifically, there is more interest in aspects of fatherhood such as the quantity and quality of time spent in caregiving activities, the impact of fathers' involvement on children's socialization, and their ability or willingness to effectively coparent with their children's mothers (Burton & Hardaway, ; Gaskin‐Butler, Engert, Markievitz, Swenson, & McHale, ; Marsiglio, Amato, Day, & Lamb, ; McHale & Waller, ). A by‐product of this increased interest in fatherhood and the roles of fathers is that the fatherhood literature has been significantly bolstered.…”

Barriers to Human Milk Feeding at Discharge of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants: Maternal Goal Setting as a Key Social Factor

“…28 In addition, Black and Nitz examined a population of urban, low-income, first-time adolescent mothers residing with the maternal grandmother of the infant and found that the coresiding grandmother appeared to facilitate more support for the adolescent role (e.g., mothers were more likely to remain in school), than for the maternal role; thus suggesting that the support of the maternal grandmother was primarily directed toward facilitating the mother's growth and development. 29 Similarly, literature specifically focused on black mothers of primarily term infants demonstrates that the opinion of the mother's mother is very important.…”