We can work it out : mothers' and fathers' coparenting of two children

The present study has two primary goals: 1) to validate an observational coding system of coparenting in families of four (the Families of Four Rating Scales, or FoFRS) and 2) to explore aspects of coparenting that may be unique to families with two children, in particular, a new type of coparenting termed “divide and conquer,” in which each parent interacts one-on-one with one of their two children. To establish validity for the newly proposed coding system, the study examined whether mothers’ and fathers support of their partner, involvement with both children, and competency with both children relate to three different types of coparenting qualities - cooperative, competitive, and divide and conquer - in predicted ways, based on past research on families of three. The sample consists of 52 families of four, in which the whole family was video-recorded in a 25-minute home interaction, and afterwards, parents’ completed self-report measures of coparenting quality. Results largely replicated findings from studies of coparenting families of three research, providing validity for the Families of Four Rating Scales. Similar to findings for research on coparenting in families of three, higher levels of cooperative coparenting was related to both parents’ higher involvement in coparenting and mutual support of their partner, as well as fathers’ high levels of competency with both children. Only mothers’ undermining of fathers related to competitive coparenting. Divide and conquer coparenting was found to be an adaptive style of coparenting that was negatively to competitive coparenting and positively to cooperative coparenting. Furthermore, mothers’ support of fathers and mothers’ involvement with both children related to divide and conquer coparenting. Implications for family intervention and future directions for research in this area are discussed.