The trajectory of coparenting relationship quality across early adolescence: Family, community, and parent gender influences.

Abstract

This study examined longitudinal change in coparenting support and conflict for married parents during their child's adolescence, and the links between financial, work, and community factors and coparenting support and conflict. We utilized an ecological perspective, drawing on five waves of data from 635 dual-earner families with adolescents (M = 11.29, SD = .48 years old at Time 1). Applying a multilevel modeling approach and using reports from mothers and fathers we examined: (a) change in coparenting support and conflict over six years; (b) correlated change in contextual factors (financial strain, work hours and satisfaction, and community cohesion) with change in coparenting; and (c) differences in associations for mothers versus fathers. Findings revealed a decline over six years in perceptions of partner coparenting support for mothers and fathers, but no significant change in perceived coparenting conflict. Changes in financial strain, work characteristics, and community cohesion were associated with change in coparenting support and conflict in expected directions; interactions by parent gender suggest that mothers' reports of coparenting quality are more closely linked to some contextual influences than fathers' reports. Discussion centers on the implications of social contexts for coparenting at a critical period in youth development. (PsycINFO Database Record

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well‐being?

“…One of the longstanding questions in adoption research is whether, and the extent to which, adopted children are able to adjust to the new family and to define a sense of belonging. Specifically, a significant portion of adoption research revealed that adoptees are at higher risk for difficulties than is the general population (e.g., Askeland et al, 2018; Barroso et al, 2017; Juffer & Van IJzendoorn, 2005; Riina & Feinberg, 2018). It is worth noting, however, that, when compared with peers who have remained in residential care, adoptees appear to be better adjusted and to show a cognitive advantage (Sánchez‐Sandoval, 2015; van IJzendoorn et al, 2005), thus supporting the claim that adoption is a crucial source of resilience and represents an opportunity for children out‐of‐home care to recover their physical, cognitive, and socio‐emotional development (Barroso et al, 2017).…”

Longitudinal associations between coparenting and child adjustment among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual adoptive parent families.

“…Studies about coparenting among heterosexual couples across childhood and adolescence have uncovered different trajectories related to parental gender (Cowan, Cowan, & Kerig, 1993; Riina & Feinberg, 2018). Thus, research investigating coparenting and children’s development in families diverse in parental gender and sexual orientation (i.e., those with same- and different-sex parents) could broaden understanding regarding effects of coparenting on children, yet no such studies are available in families diverse in parental sexual orientation beyond the preschool years (Farr & Patterson, 2013).…”

Perceived Discrimination and Relationship Satisfaction Among Same-Sex Couples: The Role of Dyadic Stress and Sex

“…Among heterosexual couples, it has long been asserted that men have greater relationship satisfaction than women (Greil et al, 2018;Jackson, Miller, Oka, & Henry, 2014). A recent study found that women experienced higher levels of stress and lower levels of relationship satisfaction than men (Riina & Feinberg, 2018). Compared to different-sex couples, same-sex couples are supposed to be more fluid with respect to gender dynamics and scripts.…”