The goal of this symposium is to advance research on complex links between parenting and coparenting among families raising children. In the three papers, the authors tackle this goal by using different analytical approaches, including daily diary data, dyadic difference models, and structural equation modeling (SEM) predicting child development among couples. They measure different coparenting and parenting constructs, yet all include data from mothers and fathers. Collectively, this work demonstrates the utility of applying family systems approaches to the study of parents and children, and carries clear implications for future family-focused research and the design of interventions and policies to support families.

Objectives

Attendees will learn about: 1. Research illustrating the complex links between parenting and coparenting among families raising children. 2. Data on coparenting drawn from three different datasets (e.g., Building Strong Families in which couples are mostly unmarried, lower-incomer, and expecting their first child together). 3. Learn about different statistical techniques to study coparenting (e.g., dyadic level and difference scores SEM).