Processes Linking Mothers’ Perceptions of Relationship Satisfaction with their Partner, Coparenting, and Parenting to Children’s Competence and Behavior Problems

Guided by family systems and multi-level complexity perspectives, this study examined dynamic family processes linking mothers’ perceived relationship satisfaction with their partner, coparenting (cooperation, conflict, and triangulation), and harsh parenting to children’s perceived competence and social acceptance, as well as behavior problems. The sample consisted of 61 dyads of mothers and preschool-age children. A path model revealed that low levels of coparenting conflict was directly associated with positive self-perception (greater perceived competence and social acceptance) in children. Mothers’ greater reported relationship satisfaction was also directly linked to children’s positive self-perception and to lesser behavior problems. In contrast, mothers who experienced greater coparenting triangulation with their partners reported harsher parenting, which in turn contributed to children’s behavior problems, supporting the spillover hypothesis. Additional findings highlight specific links between greater maternal relationship satisfaction with their partners, lesser coparenting conflict, and greater social competence in children.