Summary
Fathers, children, and their families can all benefit from having healthy relationships. As such, the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) within the Administration for Children and Families requires relationship education as part of their federal responsible fatherhood program. These services address both coparenting and romantic relationships. However, recent federal evaluations have found that relationship services are not highly attended by program participants. The goals of the current study are to understand how fatherhood programs support fathers’ healthy coparenting and romantic relationships, examine how programs’ approaches align with the needs of the fathers they serve, and inform the field about future directions for engaging fathers in healthy relationship programming. The primary data source for the study is semi-structured phone interviews with program staff from nine fatherhood programs, and fathers and coparents affiliated with these fatherhood programs.

Objectives

• To examine approaches fatherhood programs take to support healthy coparenting and romantic relationships.
• To assess how fatherhood program approaches align with the needs of the fathers they serve.
• To inform the field about future directions for engaging fathers in relationship programming.

Subject Codes: fatherhood, relationships, coparenting
Population Codes: non-clinical practitioners, biological parent,
Method and Approach Codes: qualitative methodology, ,

Summary
Fathers’ parenting self-efficacy (PSE), or beliefs about one’s ability to parent, is an important predictor of early father engagement. One potential influence on fathers’ PSE is their relationship with the mother of their child. This study examined both fathers’ and mothers’ perceptions of relationship quality and coparenting alliance quality as predictors of fathers’ PSE across two domains: general competence and safety/wellness knowledge. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to assess the predictive value of father demographic characteristics, father-reported relationship variables, and mother-reported relationship variables. Results revealed fathers’ education was associated with both measures of PSE. Father type (current vs. expecting) was associated with fathers’ safety/wellness knowledge; current fathers reported higher knowledge compared to expecting fathers. Father-reported coparenting alliance quality positively predicted both PSE measures. Father-reported relationship quality and both mother-reported variables did not predict fathers’ PSE.

Objectives

• To examine the association between fathers’ reports of relationship factors with fathers’ parenting self-efficacy.
• To examine the association between mothers’ reports of relationship factors with fathers’ parenting self-efficacy.
• To explore potential influences on early fathering behavior.

Subject Codes: fatherhood, coparenting, family functioning
Population Codes: low income, couples/coupled, prenatal or infants
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology, regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical), dyadic analysis

Summary
This study examinedtrajectories of coparenting quantity and quality from child age 1 to 5, the effects of fathers’ work and marital adjustment on coparenting trajectories among low-income coresidential families.1,003 families from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study across waves 2 to 4 were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling. Coparenting quantity and quality significantly decreased over time. Higher levels of quantity at child age 1 were associated with higher levels of quality at child age 1, with greater decreases in quantity. Higher levels of marital satisfaction at child age 1 predicted higher levels of coparenting quantity, quality at child age 1, and less decreases in coparenting quality over time. This study highlighted marital relationships during infancy for managing future coparenting quantity and quality. Additionally, theearly years of the child’s life can be a great window of intervention fostering coparenting.

Objectives

• To examine developmental trajectories of coparenting quantity and quality
• To examine the effects of father's work and marital adjustment
• To offer a refinement of coparenting conceptualization and associated factors in low-income coresidential families

Subject Codes: coparenting, work-family issues, marginalization
Population Codes: cohabiting, low income, biological child
Method and Approach Codes: growth curve modeling (GCM), longitudinal research, Family Science

Summary
The associations between divorce and detrimental childhood outcomes has been well documented. Disruptions in parenting behaviors during the process of divorce may be a mediating factor in the observed detriments to child social and emotional development, and as such parental communication to their children may be a significant factor in either improvements or declines in childhood outcomes. The present study presents the results of qualitative thematic analysis of letters written by a sample divorcing parents, which were written to their children near the end of a co-parenting education program. Results of the analysis included four themes, including assurances given to child, suggestions on managing emotions, explanations of parent circumstances, and elucidation of continued parental expectations. Responses that fell into each theme were further divided into sub-themes. Message content ranged from potentially pro-social messages as well as some that had the potential to be detrimental to children. Implications will be discussed.

Objectives

• Participants will gain a greater understanding of key factors associated with parent-child communication during the process of divorce.
• Participants will learn about novel techniques for improving parent insight and communication skills within a co-parenting education program.
• Participants will learn about implications for co-parenting education programming, including common parental difficulties and expectations regarding child adjustment during the process of divorce.

Subject Codes: coparenting, communication, parenting education
Population Codes: divorced, ,
Method and Approach Codes: thematic analysis, qualitative methodology,

Summary
A prevalent phenomenon in the U.S., divorce remains a common context for which many families reside. The intrinsic reorganization and transition that accompanies the process of divorce can be stressful for families. When coupled with the socio-historical context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this adjustment can become even more challenging. Using a stress process framework, this study used a mixed method approach to examine if or how parents (n=408), who were completing a divorce education program, perceived their ability to parent and coparent were being impacted by the pandemic. Analyses revealed nine primary categories of experiences for participants. Qualitative categories were then used as predictors of adjustment, with results of a hierarchical linear regression revealing a significant link to both (1) increased communication technology use and (2) travel restrictions. Results have the potential to inform policymakers’ decisions about parenting plan arrangements and emergency orders during times of crisis.

Objectives

• To understand the range of adjustment issues divorcing parents have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze the nature of association between COVID-19 adjustment and coparenting quality.
• To identify leverage points that can aid divorcing parents during the current socio-historical context.

Subject Codes: coparenting, COVID-19, relationship dissolution
Population Codes: divorced, middle adulthood,
Method and Approach Codes: mixed-methodology, parenting education,

Summary
This study uses data from the Supporting Healthy Marriages (SHM) program, a multi-site, large-scale family strengthening program funded by the U.S. federal government, to examine patterns of coparenting in low-income families using a person-centered approach and accounting for fathers’ as well as mothers’ perspectives. The sample included 2,915 couples with a child under age 5 who participated in SHM and reported on the quality of their coparenting relationship. Latent profile analyses revealed four classes of coparental functioning in low-income families. These patterns did not simply reflect high, moderate, and low-quality coparenting, but instead highlighted differences in mothers’ and fathers’ perspectives on the functioning of the coparenting relationship. Subsequent analyses will consider predictors and child outcomes associated with these profiles. These results promote understanding of coparenting dynamics at a more nuanced and systemic level and provide valuable information to inform future research and family strengthening programs.

Objectives

• To examine patterns of coparenting in low-income families using a person-centered analysis approach.
• To consider fathers' and mothers' perspectives on coparenting simultaneously.
• To promote understanding of coparenting dynamics at a more nuanced and systemic level and provide valuable information to inform future research and family strengthening programs.

Subject Codes: coparenting, family processes,
Population Codes: couples/coupled, diverse but not representative, low income
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology, secondary data analysis,

Summary
The current study investigated the interactive effects of parental and spousal depression and child negative affectivity on the perception of coparenting quality of mothers and fathers across 3 to 24 months post-partum. An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was conducted using Multilevel modeling to account for within-family interdependencies. Higher parental depression predicted greater decreases in parents’ own perceptions of coparenting quality across occasions at the between- and within-person level for both fathers and mothers. Higher spousal depression was also predictive of greater decreases in parents’ perception of coparenting at the between-person level. Lastly, child negative affectivity and parental depression interacted to predict changes in parental perception of coparenting quality across time points. Findings indicated the importance of considering the interactive effects of parents, spouses, and infants on level and change in coparenting relationship during the transition to parenthood, and have implications for family-based intervention.

Objectives

• To investigate the effects of parental and spousal depression on the perception of coparenting quality of mothers and fathers during the transition to parenthood.
• To investigate the effects of child negative affectivity on maternal and paternal coparenting quality during the transition to parenthood.
• To explore whether child negativity moderates the association between parental depression and perception of coparenting quality for both parents and their spouses.

Subject Codes: coparenting, depression, family processes
Population Codes: prenatal or infants, U.S., couples/coupled
Method and Approach Codes: actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), multilevel modeling, longitudinal modeling

Summary
Objectives: We tested the prospective associations between coparenting relationship quality and breastfeeding duration among 164 dual-earner couples at the transition to parenthood. We hypothesized that mothers who perceived more supportive and less undermining coparenting relationships would breastfeed for a longer duration. Methods: At three months after childbirth, mothers reported their perceptions of coparenting relationship quality using the Coparenting Relationship Scale. Mothers reported their breastfeeding behaviors at two time points—when their infant was at 9 months and 12-36 months old. Results: A series of survival analyses revealed that more supportive coparenting was associated with longer breastfeeding duration, whereas more undermining coparenting was associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. These associations were only observed among families of girls. Conclusions: This study highlights the interactive role of coparenting relationship quality and infant sex as proximal contexts that may shape breastfeeding practices.

Objectives

• To analyze breast-feeding decisions from a family systems perspective
• To understand the role of coparenting relationships in breastfeeding among new parents
• To understand the role of child gender in moderating the association between coparenting and breastfeeding

Subject Codes: family relations, coparenting, health
Population Codes: biological parent, ,
Method and Approach Codes: survival analysis, ,

Summary
Despite some parent’s best efforts, negative experiences such as inter-parental conflict, described as frequent and prolonged disagreements between parents, may undermine positive parenting. Nonetheless, researchers have found that positive parenting behaviors may act as a mechanism to alleviate its negative effects. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), this study examined the mechanistic role of parental closeness on the association between inter-parental conflict and children’s task completion. Findings were such that inter-parental conflict reported by both mothers and fathers during early and middle childhood had a significant negative association with children’s task completion. Findings were significant for fathers during middle childhood only. Further, mediation analyses indicated that paternal closeness, but not maternal closeness significantly mediated the association between inter-parental conflict and children’s task completion. Findings from this study have several meaningful implications relating to the parent-child relationship, and children's cognitive development.

Objectives

• To identify factors that enhance children’s cognitive development
• To test hypotheses relating to the risk and resilience framework
• To analyze the mechanistic effects of positive parenting

Subject Codes: conflict, parent-child relationships, risk factors
Population Codes: single parent, early childhood, biological child
Method and Approach Codes: applied research, mediation/indirect effects models, longitudinal research

Summary
Using data from 340 divorced parents, we explored their perceptions of helpfulness of possible resources for post-divorce family resiliency. Specifically, divorced parents rated 17 resources for whether they had been helpful, unhelpful, or neither for family adjustment to parental divorce. Parents’ own parenting skills, spending time with children, time since divorce, and their own health were rated as helpful by over two-thirds of these parents. The most common unhelpful resources were relationships with former spouses, former spouses’ parenting skills, and the court system. Family educators can use these results to ensure divorcing parents are provided resources they perceive as helpful.

Objectives

• Identify the resources divorced parents feel have helped their families adjust to parental divorce.
• Identify the resources divorced parents feel have been unhelpful as their families adjusted to parental divorce.
• Determine how accumulation of helpful resources affects family adjustment to divorce.

Subject Codes: family structure, resilience, translational
Population Codes: divorced, U.S.,
Method and Approach Codes: cross-cultural, regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical),