A Cross‐Lagged Panel Model of Coparental Interaction and Father Involvement Shortly After Divorce

• Published date: 01 July 2021
• Author: Raymond E. Petren,Anthony J. Ferraro,McKenzie L. Zimmermann,Michael V. Anthony,Kay Pasley
• Date: 01 July 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12508

R E. PPennsylvania State University Scranton

A J. F  MK L. ZKansas State University

M V. APennsylvania State University Scranton

K PFlorida State University

A Cross-Lagged Panel Model of Coparental

Interaction and Father Involvement Shortly

After Divorce

Objective: To examine (a) associations among

coparental interaction (cooperation, overt

conict, covert conict) and father involve-

ment (engagement, in-kind nancial support),

(b) associations among the three dimensions

of coparental interaction, and (c) associations

among the two dimensions of father involvement,

shortly after divorce.

Background: Family relationships change

shortly after divorce, yet little research has

examined coparental interaction and father

involvement shortly after divorce and overt and

covert conict are often not included.

Method: Mothers 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.

Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania

State University Scranton, 120 Ridge ViewDrive, Dunmore,

PA 18512 (rpetren@psu.edu).

Key Words: coparental interaction, coparenting, divorce,

father involvement.

Results: Higher father engagement and lower

overt conict (Time 1) were associated with

higher cooperation (Time 2). Covert conictwas

associated with later overt conict. In-kind sup-

port was not associated with later father engage-

ment or coparental interaction. No reciprocal

associations among variables were found.

Conclusion: Coparental conict and father

engagement may be salient to the development of

later coparental relationships following divorce.

Implications: Practitioners can help parents

manage conict and encourage father engage-

ment to foster healthy coparental relationships

after divorce.

Family transitions such as divorce are noted as

times of ux for family relationships and father-

ing behaviors (Palkovitz & Palm, 2009); and

shortly after divorce is a formative period for

the reconguration of parental relationships and

the establishment of new patterns of involve-

ment (Ahrons & Miller, 1993). Concomitantly,

this period is characterized by emotional tur-

moil, nancial challenges, residential changes,

problems with parent and child well-being,

and issues of boundary and role ambiguity

that can threaten the reestablishment of both

coparental relationships and father involvement

808Family Relations 70 (July 2021): 808–822

DOI:10.1111/fare.12508