The Impact of Coparenting on Mothers’ COVID-19-Related Stressors

Abstract

To test and explore whether more positive coparenting will significantly predict lower COVID-19-related stress across family configurations and dynamics and across both higher- and lower-income mothers, we developed and circulated an online survey among mothers from the U.S. and Canada. Coparenting was measured using the Coparenting Across Family Structures (CoPAFS) short form (27 items) scale, comprised of factors representing five coparenting dimensions: communication, respect, trust, animosity, and valuing the other parent. Items specific to COVID-19 stressors assessed the types of stressors each parent faced. The sample consisted of 236 North American mothers, mostly white (n = 187, 79.2%) and aged 30–50 years. The surveyed mothers reported a consistent and significant relation between more positive coparenting and less COVID-19-related stressors whether parents were living together or not, married or divorced, and with a lower or higher income level, suggesting the importance and centrality of positive coparenting as a key factor for family well-being. Coparenting was especially predictive among mothers who were never married and those with lower incomes.

Associations of parenting daily hassles with parents’ mental health during the COVID-19 school closure

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that social support, particularly family support, protects individuals' mental health both directly and as a buffer for pandemic-related stress (Brown et al, 2020 ; Li and Xu, 2022 ; Szkody et al, 2021 ). Some studies also indicated that more supportive co-parenting is associated with less parental stress ( Giannotti et al, 2021 ; Lucassen et al, 2021 ; Pruett et al, 2021 ). The present study further demonstrated that family support and co-parenting work on parents' mental health both directly and indirectly, by attenuating daily parenting hassles.…”

“…In addition to the adverse effects on parenting stress and mental health, home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic may have also offered a good opportunity to enhance the interaction between family members and their children ( Tang et al, 2021 ). Emerging evidence has shown that some family aspects, such as family support and co-parenting, are important protective factors against parenting stress and supporting mental health during lockdown ( Giannotti et al, 2021 ; Khoury et al, 2021 ; McRae et al, 2021 ; Pruett et al, 2021 ). During home confinement, family members become the most available resources for people to cope with the disrupted daily life routine ( Li and Xu, 2022 ).…”

Parental Burnout During the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Parenting Stressors and Coparenting Support

“…During the lockdown period in Italy, coparenting support was associated with lower levels of parental stress ( Giannotti et al, 2021 ). Coparenting support was also associated with less COVID-19-related stress among mothers in North America ( Pruett et al., 2021 ). Additionally, another study found cooperative coparenting mitigated the effects of parental stress on harsh parenting during the lockdown in New Zealand ( McRae et al., 2021 ).…”

Art Play with Daddy: Father-Child Play with Art Materials at Home

“…Although paternal involvement in household care and childcare has increased, studies show that mothers worldwide remain responsible for a significantly higher proportion of total household care and childcare (Craig & Mullan, 2011 ; McMunn et al, 2017 ; Paquette, 2004 ). Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic further negatively impacted the distribution of childcare, with the burden falling on mothers, especially those with young children (Calarco et al, 2021 ; Pruett et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Scholars argue that, unfortunately, COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions, including school and childcare closures, some job losses, the shift to remote work, the implementation of social distancing, and the negotiation of different COVID-19 protocols among households further negatively impacted mothers disproportionately; making them responsible for additional childcare, especially those with young children (Calarco et al, 2021 ; Pruett et al, 2021 ).…”