The French version of the coparenting inventory for parents and adolescents (CI-PA): psychometric properties and a cluster analytic approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Coparenting refers to the way in which adults work together in their role as parents to meet the needs of their children. Over the past decades, there has been a considerable growth of empirical research on coparenting, including the development of self-report questionnaires. However, most available measures relied exclusively on parental self-reports and were designed for use with families with toddlers or preschoolers. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the French version of the Coparenting Inventory for Parents and Adolescents (CI-PA) and to identify coparenting profiles in a sample of 312 families with adolescents. The three-factor structure was generally replicated by CFA. Cronbach's alphas and item-total correlations revealed that the CI-PA and its subscales (cooperation, conflict and triangulation) have reasonable to good internal consistency. Convergent and discriminant construct validity of the CI-PA was confirmed, using a confirmatory factor analysis approach to multitrait (i.e. coparenting dimensions) multimethod (i.e. different informants) design. Additionally, the associations between coparenting dimensions, parenting (i.e. responsiveness, autonomy-support, psychological control), and adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment (i.e. self-esteem and risk-taking) supported concurrent validity. Finally, cluster analysis identified three different profiles of coparenting in families with adolescents. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.