Co-parenting in Intact and Divorced Families: Its Impact on Young Adult Adjustment

Co-parenting is the ideal parenting relationship after divorce, characterized by involvement of both parents in all decisions regarding their children. Children who report that their parents demonstrate healthy co-parenting are generally better adjusted than their peers who experience unhealthy co-parenting. The present study examined the potential mediating roles of co-parenting and parenting practices upon the relationship between marital status and young adult adjustment. Data were analyzed via structural equation modeling. Participants were 340 undergraduate students from intact and divorced/separated families. Data were obtained via questionnaires that tapped a range of adjustment factors (i.e., mental health, fear of intimacy, work ethic, self esteem, delinquency) along with co-parenting and parenting practices from the young adult's perspective. Results suggest that co-parenting is an important mediator of the relationship between marital status and young adult adjustment. Clinical and policy implications of study findings will be discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Ferrante, Jill A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Arnold L. Stolberg

• delinquency
• divorce
• structural equation modeling
• mediation
• cooperation
• separated
• family
• work ethic
• self esteem
• parent
• mental health
• intimacy
• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1485

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-2484