Dual trajectories of supportive coparenting and father involvement: Parental predictors and influences

Abstract

Objective

The goal of this study was to examine dual trajectories of supportive coparenting and father involvement across the transition to parenthood into early childhood.

Background

During the transition to parenthood, families adapt to new dynamic family subsystems. Drawing on family systems theory, we investigated the influence of supportive coparenting (mother–father subsystem) and father involvement (father–child subsystem) on child development.

Method

Longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study collected at the child's birth and ages 1, 3, and 5 years included a sample of predominantly unmarried disadvantaged couples (N = 856) living in diverse couple relationship configurations. Group-based modeling was used to identify interfamilial variations in dual trajectories and how these trajectory groups were associated with parental predictors and child behavior outcomes.

Results

Three classes were identified: High-Slow Decreasing Supportive Coparenting and Father Involvement (Class 1, 78%), High-Rapid Decreasing Supportive Coparenting and Father Involvement (Class 2, 12%), and Low-Increasing Supportive Coparenting and Low-Stable Father Involvement (Class 3, 10%). Class 3 showed greater couple supportiveness than the other classes. Couples in committed partner relationships were more likely to be in Class 1 or Class 2 than Class 3. Children of Class 1 displayed fewer behavioral problems than the other classes.

Conclusions

Findings emphasize the value of jointly considering coparenting and father involvement in targeted interventions to strengthen child development and family functioning among economically disadvantaged families.