Profiles of Coparenting and Preschoolers’ Emotional and Behavioral Development in Low-Income Families

• In Event: Fathering, Mothering, and Family Dynamics in Low-Income Families

Abstract

Coparenting refers to the ways that parents interact with each other regarding their shared child-rearing responsibilities (Feinberg, 2003). A robust body of research has suggested that high-quality coparenting is associated with positive child outcomes. Unfortunately, previous studies in this area have been limited by their focus on White middle-class families, reliance on mother-reported data, and use of variable-centered approaches. The current study seeks to overcome these limitations by focusing on majority Black families from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, incorporating both fathers’ and mothers’ data, and applying a person-centered analytic approach. Informed by the family systems theoretical framework, this study aimed to examine patterns of mother-father coparenting and their relations to preschoolers’ empathy, emotional insecurity, and behavior problems in families with low income. We hypothesized that there will be different profiles of coparenting and that a profile reflecting high quality coparenting and high congruence between mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions would be associated with more positive child outcomes. Study participants were 4,266 low-income couples (MFather/Mother age = 25.31/22.97 years old) and their preschoolers from the Building Strong Families (BSF) study. Approximately 21.80% of the couples were White, 64.50% were Black, and 13.70% were Other or mixed race. Coparenting relationship quality was measured using 10 items adapted from the Parenting Alliance Inventory (Abidin & Brunner, 1995), which primarily assessed one parent’s perception of the other parent as a coparent. Children’s empathy was measured using the Social Interaction subscale of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (Merrell, 2002). Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems were measured using the Behavior Problems Index (Zill, 1985). Emotional insecurity was measured using the Emotional Reactivity and Behavioral Dysregulation scale (Davies et al., 2002). Latent profile analysis was conducted using Mplus v.8. We identified four coparenting patterns: Profile 1: Low quality, more negative maternal coparenting perceptions (7.2%); Profile 2: Moderate-high quality, high congruence, slightly more negative paternal coparenting perceptions (25.2%); Profile 3: Low congruence, severely more negative maternal coparenting perceptions (11.8%); Profile 4: Mutual high-quality coparenting (55.8%). As expected, children of parents with the mutual high-quality coparenting profile had the most positive outcomes. Children of parents with the low congruence, severely more negative maternal coparenting perceptions profile showed significantly higher levels of emotional insecurity and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than children of parents with other profiles. Children of parents with the moderate-high quality, high congruence, slightly more negative paternal coparenting perceptions profile exhibited the lowest levels of empathy. Our findings show that a large portion of the families with low income participating in a healthy marriage and relationship skills education program engage in positive, high quality coparenting. The four distinct coparenting patterns identified in this study highlight the importance of considering both the level of quality and the congruence between fathers’ and mothers’ perceptions when examining coparenting relationships. Highly congruent and positive perceptions of the other parent as a coparent appear to be a significant promotive factor for positive child development. Family strengthening programs for unmarried couples with low income should target and support the development of mutually satisfying and high-quality coparenting relationships.

Authors

• Susan Yoon, Ohio State University
  Presenting Author

• Junyeong Yang, The Ohio State University

• Jingyi Wang, Ohio State University

• Yiran Zhang, The Ohio State University

• Minjung Kim, The Ohio State University

• Joyce Yea-Eun Lee, Ohio State University

• Sarah Jane Schoppe-Sullivan, Ohio State University