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Predictors of Parental Communication and Cooperation Among Divorcing Spouses

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Abstract

The present study seeks to identify parental communication and cooperation as predictors of successful co-parenting in Israel during the divorce process. Self-report questionnaires assessing three types of predictors (parent personality characteristics, social and contextual factors and child characteristics) were completed by 123 divorcing mothers and 94 divorcing fathers. Two stepwise hierarchical regressions, one for parental communication and one for cooperation, showed that gender (female) and use of negotiation to resolve conflicts were the major predictors of both. These variables affected co-parenting both independently and in interaction with the personality characteristics of defense mechanism use and optimism. The differential contributions support the hypothesis of communication and cooperation as separate components of successful co-parenting, and the value of studying both. Clinically, these findings may be used to help improve co-parenting during divorce.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, 52900, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Ricky Finzi-Dottan

  2. School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Orna Cohen

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  1. Ricky Finzi-Dottan
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  2. Orna Cohen
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Correspondence to Ricky Finzi-Dottan.

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Finzi-Dottan, R., Cohen, O. Predictors of Parental Communication and Cooperation Among Divorcing Spouses. J Child Fam Stud 23, 39–51 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9684-z

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