Coparenting from multiple perspectives and associations with child and family functioning.

Abstract

Coparenting relationships play an important role in shaping marital satisfaction, parenting behavior, and children's social-emotional adjustment. Coparenting relationship quality can be measured via parent self-report and direct observation. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, providing different perspectives on coparenting relationships. However, most studies rely on one method-typically mother report-to assess coparenting quality, yielding an incomplete picture of coparenting dynamics. The present study obtained maternal reports, paternal reports, and observations of coparenting relationships in 160 dual-earner different-sex parent families (86% White, 88% married) with infants. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify patterns in coparenting relationships and their associations with child and family functioning. Four distinct coparenting relationship profiles were identified: high-convergent (42%), high-reported, moderate-observed (34%), moderate-high-reported, mother less positive, low-observed (13%), and moderate-reported, father less positive, moderate-high observed (11%). Profile membership was associated with parents' marital satisfaction, positive parental engagement, and children's social-emotional adjustment. Overall, families in the high-convergent profile had the best family and child outcomes. Even though parents in the high-reported, moderate-observed profile perceived their coparenting relationships just as positively, these families experienced greater risk for compromised family functioning and child adjustment compared to families in the high-convergent profile. Obtaining observations and fathers' reports of coparenting in addition to mothers' reports appears desirable to understand the roles of coparenting in family functioning, particularly in children's social-emotional adjustment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).