Associations between coparenting and child adjustment: Universality and specificity across four countries

Abstract

Objective

This study examines the universality and specificity in associations between coparenting and child adjustment across four diverse countries on four continents: Brazil, Italy, Pakistan, and the United States.

Background

Coparenting, a cornerstone of family functioning, has a significant influence on the adjustment of both young children and adolescents, as substantiated in a large body of research. A cross-national perspective is currently lacking, however.

Methods

Data were compiled from four countries; respondents included 1,588 parents of young children (ages 0–9 years) and 507 parents of adolescent children (ages 10–18 years). Path analyses were conducted to examine the association between coparenting and child adjustment. Model comparisons were used to explore similarities and variations in the associations across countries.

Results

Stronger coparenting relationships are associated with fewer child internalizing and externalizing problems in young and adolescent children, which was observed in three of the four countries studied. In Pakistan, however, no significant associations were found between coparenting and young children's internalizing problems or adolescents' externalizing problems. For adolescents, significant differences emerged, particularly between Pakistan and the other three countries, as well as between Brazil and Italy.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates and affirms the universal importance of coparenting in child adjustment, together with variations in the strength of this relationship, in various cultural contexts.

Implications

The work highlights cultural specificities and underscores the need for culturally sensitive approaches in coparenting research and practice.