The construction of the coparenting relationship : a qualitative enquiry

• Main Author: Allsop, Elizabeth Jayne
• Published: Lancaster University 2010
• Subjects: 649.1019
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.552817

For the literature review, a meta-synthesis was undertaken of eight qualitative studies exploring perceptions of fathers' contributions to the coparenting relationship. Two over- arching themes were found: 'getting involved?' and 'how to be a father'. These themes and their sub-themes reflect the emotional and behavioural contributions fathers are expected to make to the coparenting relationship. These themes are embedded in Western society's social narratives of the 'ideal' father and the positioning of the father as a subparent. Fathers who are involved in the coparenting relationship demonstrate greater psychological well-being, as do their children. However, when fathers fail to achieve to fulfil the role of father they can experience psychological distress. Services have a role to elevate the position of father from subparent to equal coparent and to promote achievable ideals for fathers and mothers which are not confined by traditional stereotypical gender roles. The research paper explores the construction of the coparenting relationship, and any transgenerational influences on the construction of this relationship. Six coparental dyads were recruited from the community and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and five discrete but interrelated themes were found: 'planned coparenting', 'beliefs and values informing models of parenting', 'reliving and re-authoring childhood', 'individual and shared coparental roles', and 'being a coparent, being a partner and being me'. Services have a role in offering timely interventions to support the development of a sound coparenting relationship and to support parents to fulfil shared coparental roles whilst still maintaining their self-identity. The critical review discusses the decisions made at each stage of the research process and reflections on these decisions. Methodological limitations of the study are discussed and recommendations for further research are made.