Coparental Communication Research Articles

Divorced Coparents’ Experiences during the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Using data collected from divorced parents (N = 491; 49.7% mothers) during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 31st through April 3rd 2020, we evaluated divorced parents’ perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting their post-divorce coparenting relationships. Overall, 67.8% of parents reported no impacts of the pandemic on their coparenting relationship, with 21% reporting a negative effect, and 9% a positive effect. Coparenting communication frequency, coparenting satisfaction, and boundary ambiguity were associated with how the pandemic was affecting post-divorce coparenting relationships. Results can aid family practitioners in developing resources to help divorced parents navigate novel life stressors.

A culturally grounded prenatal coparenting intervention: Results of a randomized controlled trial with unmarried Black parents.

This study examines the efficacy of a prenatal intervention designed to promote healthy coparenting relationships in families where low-income, unmarried mothers and fathers were expecting a first baby together. One hundred thirty-eight Black and mixed-race mother-father dyads participated. Coparent dyads were randomly assigned to either a treatment as usual (TAU) group, receiving referrals and navigation support to existing community services (control), or to TAU plus invitation to a series of six dyadic Focused Coparenting Consultation (FCC) sessions led by a male-female mentor team (intervention). Seventy-one percent of those prenatally assessed were later reassessed at 3 months postpartum. Both mothers and fathers contributed reports of coparenting, father engagement, physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV), and depressive symptoms. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated: (a) some evidence that mothers in the intervention group reported more positive coparenting communication at 3 months postpartum than did control group mothers; (b) mothers in the intervention group reported significantly more time spent by fathers with the child than did control group mothers; (c) parents in the intervention group had significant reductions in psychological IPV compared to parents in the control group; and (d) both mothers and fathers showed reductions in self-reported depression over time, with no differential impact of group. Findings suggest that the FCC intervention may produce modest but important benefits for unmarried, low-income Black coparents in the transition to parenthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

“A Little Bit Closer”: A Mixed Method Analysis of the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lives of Adolescent Parents

Using a Family Stress Model framework, we used quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the impact of the pandemic on Latinx pregnant and parenting adolescents and their families. Participants were 406 adolescents (ages 14–19) in the southwestern U.S. who participated in a school-based relationship education program for pregnant and parenting adolescents. In the quantitative analysis, we compared self-reported mental health (depressive symptoms, worry, parental stress), coparental relationships (conflict and communication), and parenting of adolescents who participated prior to the pandemic ( N = 357; 83.6% female; 84.7% Latinx) with those who participated during the pandemic ( N = 49; 74.6% female; 87.8% Latinx). Unexpectedly, the pandemic-period cohort reported fewer depressive symptoms, less parental stress, more frequent coparental communication, and more positive coparental communication and conflict management than the pre-pandemic cohort. For the qualitative analysis, we conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 21 adolescent parents (95.2% female; 90.5% Latinx) from the pandemic-period cohort and analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Participants reported many negative effects of the pandemic including increased economic and health stress, yet also discussed reduced pressure with school and more time with family members. These findings have important implications for enhancing the well-being of adolescent parents and their children after the pandemic.

Coparenting communication and hybrid masculinity in a fatherhood program

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine how involvement in a responsible fatherhood program affected participants' perceptions of masculinity and coparenting communication.BackgroundResponsible fatherhood programs emphasize the importance of being a nurturing and emotionally expressive father, challenging norms of hegemonic masculinity. This study examined how fathers described this hybrid masculinity and its impact on coparenting communication.MethodThematic analysis of 37 semistructured in‐depth interviews with a racially diverse sample of men enrolled in a responsible fatherhood program was conducted. Multiple investigators, researcher reflexivity, and an audit trail enhanced credibility, transferability, and dependability of the findings.ResultsFathers reported three types of communication with the mothers of their child(ren): confrontation, detachment, and engaged perspective‐taking. The latter approaches were learned in the fatherhood program. Fathers described several beliefs and skills affecting these approaches, including the importance of fatherhood, modeling effective communication, controlling one's emotions, and listening and speaking respectfully.ConclusionParticipation in the fatherhood program was useful in deescalating negative interactions and improving communication; however, beliefs about essential gender differences permeated participants' narratives.ImplicationsFuture programming for fathers should include curricula and peer mentoring to challenge norms of traditional masculinity and encourage multiple forms of egalitarian coparenting communication.

Domains of Ongoing Communication Between Former Spouses: Associations With Parenting Stress and Children’s Post-Divorce Well-Being

Using data from 708 divorced parents (52.4% mothers), we examined how ongoing communication (i.e., topics and frequency of communication) with former spouses was associated with parenting stress and child internalizing and externalizing behavior. Based on hierarchical multiple regression models, ongoing communication was not associated with parenting stress but was associated with child externalizing and internalizing behavior. Specifically, communicating about sex/romance was associated with more child externalizing behavior. Communication about self and family and communication about sex/romance were associated with more, but coparenting communication with less, child internalizing behavior. Overall, the results support recent suggestions by family scientists and clinicians that divorced parents should limit their communication to shared parenting issues. Discussing non-coparenting topics may lead to a post-divorce family system that undermines children’s well-being. Talking about having a sexual or romantic relationship with their former spouses may be harmful for children’s well-being.

Emotional adaptation to relationship dissolution in parents and non-parents: A new conceptual model and measure.

Relationship dissolution can cause declines in emotional well-being, particularly if there are children involved. Individuals’ capacity to cope with the pragmatics of the situation, such as agreeing childcare arrangements, can be impaired. Before now, there has been no psychometric test to evaluate individuals’ emotional readiness to cope with these demands. This paper presents a model of emotional adaptation in the context of relationship dissolution and its key assumptions, and validates the Emotional Adaptation to Relationship Dissolution Assessment (EARDA). In Study 1 (Sample 1, n = 573 separated parents, Sample 2, n = 199 mix of parents and non-parents), factor analyses support the EARDA as a unidimensional scale with good reliability. In Study 2 (using Sample 1, and Sample 3, n = 156 separated parents) the convergent, discriminant, concurrent criterion-related, and incremental validity of the EARDA were supported by tests of association with stress, distress, attachment style, and co-parenting communication and conflict. In Study 3, the nomological network of emotional adaptation to relationship dissolution was explored in Sample 2 using cluster analysis and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). Emotional adaptation clustered with positive traits and an outward focus, and was negatively associated with negative traits and an inward focus. Emotional adaptation was conceptually located in close proximity to active and adaptive coping, and furthest away from maladaptive coping. In Study 4 (n = 30 separated parents embarking on mediation), high, medium, and low emotional adaptation to relationship dissolution categories correlated highly with mediators’ professional judgement, offering triangulated face validity. Finally, in Study 5, EARDA scores were found to mediate between separation characteristics (time since break up, whether it was a shock, and who initiated the break up) and co-parenting conflict in Sample 1, supporting the proposed model. The theoretical innovation of this work is the introduction of a new construct that bridges the gap between relationship dissolution and co-parenting. Practical implications include the use of the measure proposed to triage levels of support in a family law setting.

Parental Stress and Coparenting Among Adolescent Parents

ObjectiveThis research examines the association of parental stress and coparenting dynamics among adolescent mother and father dyads. The current study also examines potential differences between pregnant and parenting dyads in this association.BackgroundThe early transition to parenthood places adolescents at an elevated risk of negative outcomes. Thus, it is important to understand the mechanisms that might place adolescent parents at risk (parental stress) or promote resilience in the transition to parenthood (coparenting dynamics).MethodsUsing the actor–partner interdependence model, the current study examined how parental stress was associated with coparenting communication and conflict among a sample of 105 predominately Latinx adolescent parent dyads.ResultsMothers' reports of parental stress were associated with their own and their coparents' report of coparenting communication and conflict. Fathers' parental stress was only associated with their own coparenting conflict. Further, significant differences were not observed between pregnant and parenting dyads.ConclusionThe results highlight the nuanced gender dynamics between adolescent parents and support the idea that coparenting dynamics are similar across the transition to parenthood.ImplicationsThese findings suggest that parental stress, especially adolescent mothers' parental stress, has a salient influence on coparenting. Thus, programs and services for adolescent parents might target reducing parental stress to improve coparenting dynamics.

Brief Acrimony Scale – 8 (BACS-8) for Separated Parents – Development and Validation

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to develop a reliable, valid, and condensed version of the 25-item Acrimony Scale. In a sample of 451 separated parents seeking family mediation, an Exploratory Factor Analysis showed 8 items, focusing on inter-parental hostility, loading highly on a single factor. In a second sample of 447 separated parents, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis replicated the structure. The Brief Acrimony Scale-8 (BACS-8) was correlated with co-parental conflict communication, and with parental alliance. The BACS-8 has high internal consistency, a replicable factor structure, and is potentially useful for quick, routine screening of co-parenting conflict.

Co-Parenting Counseling With High-Conflict Divorced Parents: Challenges for Psychologists at All Levels of Experience

Divorce, and the conflict that ensues, greatly impacts children. Intense conflict around the terms of settlement and custody presents major challenges for psychologists who work with these families. Co-parenting training can be a helpful intervention with such families. Co-parenting training differs from family therapy or couple therapy, because of a “best interests of the child’ perspective and a future (not past) orientation. Informed consent, establishment of parenting policies, facilitation of coparenting communication, and respect for boundaries are essential components.

Postdivorce Coparenting Relationships and Parent–Youth Relationships: Are Repartnership and Parent–Youth Contact Moderators?

Using data from 392 divorced mothers and fathers, living in the United States, with a child between 10 and 18 years old, we first identified three types of postdivorce coparenting relationships ( cooperative, moderately engaged, and conflictual and disengaged) based on coparenting communication, cooperation, and conflict. We then tested if three aspects of parent–youth relationships differed between those groups. Parental warmth and support, parental knowledge, and inconsistent discipline did not differ based on the type of postdivorce coparenting relationship participants had with their ex-spouses. Finally, we tested if repartnership (i.e., being remarried or cohabiting with a new partner) or parent–youth contact moderated the associations between postdivorce coparenting and parent–youth relationships. There was one significant moderation effect. When parent–youth contact was monthly or less, parental knowledge appears lower in the conflictual and disengaged cluster compared with the other two clusters.

Negative disclosures and feeling caught mediate coparental communication and mental health

Negative disclosures and feeling caught mediate coparental communication and mental health

A Qualitative Evaluation to Improve the Co-Parenting for Successful Kids Program

Programs aiming to help parents are often challenged in analyzing open-ended survey questions from large samples. This article presents qualitative findings collected from 1,287 participants with a child 5 years of age or younger who completed the program evaluation for the Co-Parenting for Successful Kids online program, a 4-hour education course developed by the University of Nebraska Extension. Qualitative content analysis revealed that participants found the program useful for improving their co-parenting communication skills. Participants suggested areas for improvement such as additional information for helping children cope, conflict resolution strategies, handling legal issues, and understanding how divorce impacts children based on their age. Supports and information were requested from parents in high conflict situations, including families dealing with a co-parent’s alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, and having an uninvolved or absent parent. Analyzing qualitative data from participants and quantifying these responses into themes offers a useful and informative way to improve and enhance an existing education program aiming to support separating or divorcing parents.

Venting to Unify the Front: Parents’ Negative Relational Disclosures about Their Children as Mediators of Coparental Communication and Relational Quality

ABSTRACTIn families with children, presenting a unified front is important for healthy couple and family functioning, yet the behavioral mechanisms that explain how coparental communication strengthens the interparental relationship remain unclear. In this study, we examined how parents’ negative relational disclosures about their children to each other serve as mediators of coparental communication and relational quality in divorced (n = 65 dyads) and married couples (n = 173 dyads). Coparents’ reports of closeness and satisfaction in both couple types were predicted primarily by their reports of supportive and antagonistic coparental communication. The results also revealed significant indirect effects of supportive coparental communication on closeness through negative relational disclosures about young adult children for married mothers and divorced fathers. Antagonistic coparental communication positively predicted married coparents’ disclosures about their children, but not divorced coparents’ disclosures. The results extend theoretical models of coparenting and provide implications for coparenting education programs.

Dimensions of conflict for separated families index: An index for family courts

Many services and interventions focus on assisting separated families experiencing high conflict. Yet, little research has focussed on identifying and distinguishing levels of conflict. This research tested reliability and validity of an Index based on assessing 15 dimensions of conflict typical of high conflict in separation. Seventy-seven mothers and 47 fathers receiving services from family courts or social service agencies were assessed by two raters for inter-rater reliability. Internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha = 0.94 (mothers) and 0.96 (fathers). Inter-rater reliability was high, with ICC = 0.85 (mothers) and 0.83 (fathers). Preliminary evidence of validity was found comparing scores on the index to scores on the Conflict Tactics Scale and the Ahron's Quality of Coparenting Communication Scale.

Longitudinal associations between mothers’ perceptions of nonresidential fathers’ investment of resources and influence in decision-making.

Nonresidential fathers are challenged to remain involved with their children across time in both direct and indirect ways, including influencing decision-making around important issues such as school attendance and medical care. An analytic sample of 1,350 families with residential mothers and nonresidential fathers was selected from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) to examine the longitudinal relationships between mothers' reports of nonresidential fathers' influence in decision-making and their provision of resources to their children. Findings indicate that fathers' voluntary contribution of tangible resources (informal child support, caregiving time) when children are 2 years old positively predict fathers' influence in decision-making regarding the care of their 4-year-old children. Fathers' early formal child support is not related to later decision-making. Fathers' communication with mother about the child at 24 months is related to later decision-making among daughters but not sons. Fathers' early decision-making is longitudinally related to later informal child support, caregiving time, and coparenting communication. The findings support the utility of a resource theory of fathering for understanding and predicting observed patterns of father involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record

Mother-Grandmother and Mother-Father Coparenting Across Time among Mexican-Origin Adolescent Mothers and Their Families.

The current study examined mothers' reports of coparenting relationship dynamics (i.e., conflict, communication) within and between mother-father and mother-grandmother subsystems from 10 months post-partum to 5 years post-partum among 178 Mexican-origin teen mothers (M age = 16.78 years; SD = 1.00). Specifically, within subsystems, more frequent mother-father coparenting conflict was associated with less frequent mother-father coparenting communication from 10 months to 5 years post-partum, and more frequent mother-father coparenting communication was associated with less frequent mother-father conflict from 3 to 4 years post-partum. Further, more frequent mother-grandmother coparenting communication was associated with less frequent mother-grandmother conflict from 10 months to 2 years post-partum. Regarding relations across subsystems, more frequent mother-father coparenting conflict was associated with more frequent mother-grandmother conflict from 10 to 24 months post-partum, as well as from 3 to 4 years post-partum. Findings have implications for future interventions focused on coparenting relationships within the context of adolescent parenthood.

An exploration of co-parenting in the context of caring for a child prenatally diagnosed and born with a complex health condition.

The aim of this study was to describe co-parenting communication in couples in the context of caregiving for children prenatally diagnosed and born with complex health conditions. Foetal diagnosis of complex health conditions such as heart, central nervous system, or abdominal anomalies are confirmed more often than ever before. Following diagnosis, parents face challenges beginning before birth. The quality of co-parenting, when two individuals relate to each other as parents and share parental responsibilities, can have an impact on child health and development. Yet, little is known about co-parenting during the transition to parenthood after foetal diagnosis. This secondary analysis of interview data was informed by Bowlby's theoretical work on a parent's view of self as caregiver and the literature on co-parenting. Data were drawn from a larger, mixed methods, longitudinal study and included audio-recorded interviews conducted with 16 parents participating as eight couples after foetal diagnosis during the third trimester of pregnancy in 2011-2012 and again when children were 14-37months old in 2014. Analysis of interviews transcribed verbatim focused on co-parenting communication. Co-parenting communication regarding support, agreement and information sharing and a new category of shared meaning were related to the diagnosis before birth. Later, couples evolved in their co-parenting communication while caring for their toddlers and working towards achieving a sense of normalcy. Variation in co-parenting communication among couples preparing and caring for children with complex health conditions, including the development of a shared meaning of the child's diagnosis, needs further investigation to inform nursing assessment and guide tailored interventions.

Negative Parental Disclosures as Mediators of Coparental Communication and Relational Outcomes in Parent-Child Relationships

ABSTRACTThis study explored the associations among perceptions of coparental communication (i.e., supportive and antagonistic), parents’ negative disclosures, and relational outcomes in parent-child relationships (i.e., closeness and satisfaction). Participants included 241 young adult children who completed online surveys. Results indicate that parents’ negative disclosures to their children mediated the associations between both dimensions of coparental communication and both relational outcomes. Indirect effects of supportive and antagonistic coparental communication through mothers’ negative disclosures emerged for children’s closeness with mothers, but not satisfaction. Indirect effects of both forms of coparental communication through mothers’ negative disclosures also emerged for children’s closeness and satisfaction with fathers. Ultimately, the results underscore the importance of disclosure as an explanatory mechanism for the associations between coparental communication patterns and relational quality in parent-child relationships.

Marital relationship, parenting practices, and social skills development in preschool children

BackgroundThis study examined the pathways by which destructive and constructive marital conflict leading to social skills development in preschool children, are mediated through negative and positive parenting practices.MethodsMothers of 2931 Japanese children, aged 5–6 years, completed self-report questionnaires regarding their marital relationship (the Quality of co-parental communication scale) and parental practices (the Alabama parenting questionnaire). The children’s teachers evaluated their social skills using the Social skills scale.ResultsPath analyses revealed significant direct paths from destructive marital conflict to negative parenting practices and lower scores on the self-control component of social skills. In addition, negative parenting practices mediated the relationship between destructive marital conflict and lower scores on cooperation, self-control, and assertion. Our analyses also revealed significant direct paths from constructive marital conflict to positive parenting practices, and higher scores on cooperation and assertion. Positive parenting practices mediated the relationship between constructive marital conflict and higher scores on self-control and assertion.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that destructive and constructive marital conflict may directly and indirectly influence children’s social skills development through the mediation of parenting practices.

Family Communication Patterns and Perceptions of Coparental Communication

This study tested the associations among family communication patterns (i.e., conversation and conformity orientations) and young adults’ perceptions of coparental communication. Participants included 493 young adult children from intact and divorced families. Whereas conversation orientation was positively associated with perceptions of coparental communication quality, conformity orientation was negatively associated with perceptions of coparental communication quality. After controlling for divorce status and number of siblings, conversation orientation was predictive of both supportive and antagonistic coparental communication, although the effect of conversation orientation on antagonistic coparental communication was moderated by conformity orientation.