CoPAFS:

A Coparenting Tool for Assessing and Clinical Intervening

Abstract

Coparenting is a concept defined as two or more adults in any family structure engaging in the shared activities and responsibilities of raising a child (McHale & Lindahl, 2011). The coparenting subsystem of the family is distinct from the marital relationship, the parent-child relationship, and the family system as a whole (Kerig, 2019; Teubert & Pinquart, 2010). Through many studies, including meta-analyses, we have come to appreciate its power for promoting children’s and families’ well-being. Researchers have repeatedly found coparenting to be a predictor of parenting quality and family stability (e.g., Cabrera et al., 2012; Feinberg et al., 2016; 2022) across family structures (e.g. living together and separated), including sexually and gender-diverse families (Farr et al., 2019; Johnson et al., 2016). Through dedicated coparenting, even parents in conflict can nevertheless parent their child(ren) competently and effectively (Pruett et al., 2017; 2019).