Mothers’ and Fathers’ Perspectives of Coparenting Behaviors in Intact Families: The Exploration of the Brief Measure of Coparenting Relationship Scale Factor Structure

Abstract

The present study’s purpose was to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Brief Measure of Coparenting Relationship Scale in dual-parent families. The study aimed to provide further insight into how coparenting perspectives differ between mothers and fathers, across five domains: 1) Division of Labor, 2) Support, 3) Undermining, 4) Endorsement of Partner’s Parenting, and 5) Agreement. In addition to examining the factor structure between mothers and fathers, the study examined the strength of indicator loadings on each factor to determine their perceived importance. The constructs were assessed via a self-report Qualtrics survey to participants in the Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative (AHMREI). This study employed a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) to test the hypotheses and follow-up analyses of variance to test scale mean differences between mothers and fathers. It was proposed that mothers will have a stronger loading of indicators on the Division of Labor and Support domains compared to other domains, whereas for fathers, the loadings on Undermining and Endorsement of Partner’s Parenting domains will be stronger in magnitude. Due to the conflicting literature suggesting that mothers and fathers may be sensitive to perceived parenting agreement, no a priori hypothesis regarding gender differences was made. The MGCFA analysis indicated issues with the model for mothers and fathers, separately; thus, was terminated. Upon completion of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the prespecified five-factor model was not upheld in the current overall sample of mothers and fathers. Exploratory Factor Analyses revealed two-factor models for the overall sample, mothers, and fathers, respectively. Of note, based on the items for each factor, no discernable constructs emerged. Findings further indicated gender impacted three domains of coparenting: Division of Labor, Undermining, and Endorsement of Partner’s Parenting.