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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
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Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Processes linking adolescent well-being, marital love, and coparenting
Megan E Baril1, Ann C Crouter, Susan M McHale
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, PA 16802, USA. mew237@psu.edu
Summary
Coparental conflict increases adolescent risky behavior over time. Interventions strengthening marital and coparenting relationships may alter adolescent behavior trajectories.
Area of Science:
- Family Studies
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Behavior
Background:
- Coparenting dynamics significantly influence adolescent development.
- Understanding the interplay between marital relations, coparenting, and adolescent behavior is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal impact of coparenting conflict and cooperation on adolescent risky behavior.
- To examine the mediating roles of marital love and coparenting conflict in the relationship between adolescent behavior and coparenting.
Main Methods:
- Path-analytic approach utilizing annual home interview data from 177 two-parent families.
- Data collected from mothers, fathers, and adolescents over a two-year period.
- Controlled for earlier problem behaviors to isolate effects.
Main Results:
- Coparenting conflict significantly predicted increases in adolescent risky behavior over two years.
- Marital love mediated the link between early adolescent risky behavior and later coparenting.
- Coparenting conflict mediated the link between marital love and later adolescent risky behavior.
Conclusions:
- Interventions targeting marital and coparental relationships can potentially modify adolescent risky behavior trajectories.
- Coparenting conflict, rather than cooperation, emerged as a significant predictor.
- The study highlights the interconnectedness of marital quality, coparenting, and adolescent outcomes.
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