AbstractThis introduction details why there has been an emphasis placed on examining the value and efficacy of divorce and coparenting education programming. A set of articles is then described that, as a collection, provide insight into what is known and where we need to move forward as a field in the best interests of divorcing and separating parents and their children. We highlight seven original articles that provide foundations on this topic and synthesize consistent themes across these articles herein.
AbstractObjectiveThe goal was to examine (a) whether fathers' role‐level and status‐level identity salience are associated with father involvement (engagement, affection, responsibility) following divorce and (b) whether barriers to father involvement (coparenting relationship, divorce decree dissatisfaction) moderate associations between identity and involvement.BackgroundFather identity has been established as a predictor of father involvement. However, little is known about the effects of role‐level identity domains (caregiver identity, provider identity). Also, contextual factors may interfere with or support the enactment of father identities.MethodFathers from a southeastern state (n = 116) who had experienced divorce within the past 3 months were included. Hierarchical regression was used to examine direct associations and moderation effects among key indicators.ResultsFathers' identity status salience was positively associated with engagement. Caregiving role salience was positively associated with responsibility. Provider role salience was positively associated with affection when coparenting cooperation was high and negatively associated with both affection and responsibility when coparenting cooperation was low.ConclusionFindings suggest the importance of both the general father identity and role‐level identities to father involvement shortly following divorce. Coparenting cooperation may be an important mechanism for fostering involvement, especially for fathers who more strongly identify as financial providers.
The co-parenting relationship matters for postdivorce parental adjustment. This study explores the relative impact of different forms of co-parenting behaviors, coupled with an individual's psychological resources, in explaining parent mental health in recently divorced or separated parents ( n = 355). A latent variable structural equation model was fit to examine pathways between dimensions of co-parenting (support, overt conflict, self-controlled covert conflict, and externally controlled covert conflict), various psychological resources (satisfaction with the divorce decree, perceived competence of the co-parent, and self-efficacy), and adverse mental health symptomology. Significant direct pathways were identified between overt co-parenting conflict and adverse mental health. Indicators of co-parenting quality were tied differentially to various resources. Indirect effects were found for both self-controlled covert conflict and overt conflict on adverse mental health symptomology through self-efficacy. Leverage points and considerations for health professionals and practitioners working with divorcing parents are discussed.
For parents of minor children, the co-parenting relationship is often a highly salient yet volatile aspect of post-divorce life. The nature of this relationship is also dependent upon the greater social context, particularly those aspects that facilitate or constrain interactions between parents. This study evaluates four dimensions of co-parenting behaviors among a sample of recently divorced and divorcing parents (N = 396) and tests for measurement equivalence across physical custody arrangements. Item functioning was determined to be empirically similar for nonresident parents and parents with shared physical custody, so post-hoc tests were conducted comparing a combined group of these parents with a group of resident parents. Results indicated that covert conflictual behaviors falling within the exclusive control of the individual functioned similar across physical custody arrangements. Co parental support, overt forms of conflict, and covert conflict that fell outside the control of the individual differed at a mean-level. As such, there is discussion of co-parenting under particular contextual conditions and the potential impact of those conditions on child well-being.
AbstractFamily stress models have been used extensively in family science for decades and have demonstrated utility in the examination of familial responses to stressors. Although these models have been applied to research on Black families and researchers have more recently considered the impact of integrated sociocultural context and reconceptualized models accordingly, current models do not fully explain outcomes associated with mundane extreme environmental stress (MEES) and the simultaneous influence of an iterative meaning‐making process. To address this gap, we extend the contextual model of family stress, by integrating the MEES concept and propositions from symbolic interactionism, family systems theory, and ecological theory. We introduce the racial and ethnic discrimination stress model (RED‐SM), a conceptual framework, to explain how the mundane extreme environment, resources, and socialization messages contribute to a meaning‐making process that influences adjustment outcomes for Black individuals. We conclude by offering suggestions for its usage in family science research.
Guided by the Relationships Motivation Theory, this short-term longitudinal study examined associations between social support (i.e., relatedness), depression, and stress in the form of task overload among emerging adult, university students (N = 184 at time one; N = 105 at time two; 69.2% female). Results from a series of path models indicated a significant relationship between decreased perceptions of social support over time and an increase in perceived task overload with significant mediating effects through depressive symptomology. Implications for counseling services as well as intervention and awareness points for university professionals are discussed.
ObjectiveTo examine (a) associations among coparental interaction (cooperation, overt conflict, covert conflict) and father involvement (engagement, in‐kind financial support), (b) associations among the three dimensions of coparental interaction, and (c) associations among the two dimensions of father involvement, shortly after divorce.BackgroundFamily relationships change shortly after divorce, yet little research has examined coparental interaction and father involvement shortly after divorce and overt and covert conflict are often not included.MethodMothers and fathers from different families in a southeastern state (N = 194) participated within 3 months after divorce (Time 1) and 3 to 6 months later (Time 2). A cross‐lagged structural equation model was used to examine reciprocal associations among dimensions of coparental interaction and father involvement.ResultsHigher father engagement and lower overt conflict (Time 1) were associated with higher cooperation (Time 2). Covert conflict was associated with later overt conflict. In‐kind support was not associated with later father engagement or coparental interaction. No reciprocal associations among variables were found.ConclusionCoparental conflict and father engagement may be salient to the development of later coparental relationships following divorce.ImplicationsPractitioners can help parents manage conflict and encourage father engagement to foster healthy coparental relationships after divorce.
Research suggests family-level factors remain an important contributor to emerging adult mental health. Guided by the stress process framework, this study used latent growth curve modeling to examine the role of parent–child relationships, specifically emotional closeness and conflict, in child self-esteem and depression throughout emerging adulthood. Longitudinal associations between self-esteem and depression were also explored using four waves of data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations ( N = 196 emerging adults; M = 20.88 years old at Wave 1). This period was characterized by steep increases in self-esteem and decreases in depression. Findings suggested parent–child emotional closeness and conflict in early emerging adulthood were associated with the intercept of self-esteem and were indirectly related to the intercept of depression through self-esteem; the rate of change in self-esteem predicted the rate of change in depression. Findings underscore the importance of parent–child relationships during early emerging adulthood and the long-term impact of personal resources on well-being.
ObjectiveIn this Lessons from the Field, we describe the lessons we learned from developing the Divorce Education Assessment Collaborative (DEAC) and creating a longitudinal evaluation plan for divorce education programs across geographically, programmatically, and format‐diverse programs.BackgroundAlthough divorce education programs are commonly mandated for divorcing parents, variability in program content, format, and design can make it difficult to determine the efficacy of such programs. We contend developing a standardized evaluation tool, and making it freely available to programs, is essential for identifying best practices and moderators of program effectiveness.ExperienceMembers of the DEAC share their experiences and insights regarding successes and challenges in coordinating and collaborating to develop an evaluation tool that is concise, but provides key information about program effectiveness and participants' program experiences.ConclusionIdentifying and bringing together an idea champion, invested stakeholders, and critical resources (e.g., seed funding, teleconferencing, document collaboration software) were key components in the development of an effective multisite divorce education evaluation tool.ImplicationsThe strategies used to develop the DEAC may serve as a model for collaborative projects that bridge practice and research.
