Family‐level coparenting processes and child gender as moderators of family stress and toddler adjustment

Abstract

The goal of this multi-method study was to examine how child gender and coparenting processes influence associations between family stress and toddlers' social adjustment. The participants, 104 dual-earner couples and their 2-year-old children, were videotaped in their home during a freeplay activity. Mothers and fathers completed questionnaires about stress in their roles as partners, workers, and parents and their child's social-emotional adjustment. Consistent with previous research, higher levels of family stress were associated with poorer adjustment for children. Family harmony, represented by warmth and cooperation, was significantly associated with fewer internalizing problems for children even when family stress was considered. Conversely, coparental banter or 'playful humour' between parents moderated the nature of the association between family stress and children's adjustment. Banter between parents was especially protective for girls suggesting that, even in families with toddler-aged children, gender plays an important role in family-level coparenting processes. Future research needs to consider more fully the impact that child characteristics, such as gender, have on the interplay between the family context and children's development.

Predicting parenting stress: children's behavioural problems and parents' coping

“…Most parents in the comparison group were couples (76% versus 53% in the clinical group), and hence have the possibility of developing shared standards for parenting and helping each other when one is tired or stressed. Co-parental banter or 'playful humour' may moderate the association between family stress and children's adjustment (Kolak & Vernon-Feagans, 2008).…”

Coparenting moderates the association between firstborn children’s temperament and problem behavior across the transition to siblinghood.

“…Even so, how parents navigate this partnership can have profound implications for the family as a whole. For example, positive coparenting behavior has been shown to buffer toddler-aged children, especially girls, from the potentially detrimental impact of family stress (Kolak & Vernon-Feagans, 2008). The introduction of a second child into the family system can be conceptualized as a source of stress for families; and thus, this investigation sought to understand whether coparenting behavior prior to the second child's arrival would predict firstborn children's adjustment following the transition.…”

A harsh parenting team? Maternal reports of coparenting and coercive parenting interact in association with children's disruptive behaviour

“…As well as these child influences on coparenting, consistent evidence suggests that coparenting influences children's adjustment. For example, positive, supportive coparenting has been linked with fewer internalising and externalising behaviour problems in toddlers (Kolak & Vernon‐Feagans, ), fewer aggressive interactions enacted during pre‐schoolers’ doll play (McHale, Johnson, & Sinclair, ) and better social skills at age 4 years (Cabrera, Scott, Fagan, Steward‐Streng, & Chien, ). Conversely, undermining and less supportive coparenting has been associated with decreased inhibition in 3‐year‐olds (Belsky, Putnam, & Crnic, ), and with externalising behaviour problems in preschool children (Schoppe, Mangelsdorf, & Frosch, ).…”