An Exploratory Study of the Post-Divorce Coparental Relationship

Abstract

Using data from 51 separated or newly divorced women chosen by convenience methods, this study examines how support and conflict in coparental relationships are influenced by negotiation style and context variables (length of separation, mother's and children's ages, type of custody, and number of children; mother's education, income and occupation; bargaining power orientation, and feeling tone which reflects mother's orientation towards the father's behavior). Ahrons's quality of coparental relationship scale measured support and conflict within the coparental relationship, and a negotiation instrument was developed by the researcher. A highly supportive relationship was found to be associated with cooperative negotiation, more frequent coparental discussions, mother's higher educational level, and fewer children. A highly conflicted relationship was associated with competitive negotiation and more children. The negotiation process was more predictive of the dimensions of support and conflict than were the context variables. A successful negotiation style was associated with father spending more time with children, father's higher income, and a mutually initiated separation.