Abstract
The focus of this chapter is on coparenting in families in which both mothers and fathers are coresident with their children. Coparenting has been conceptualized in a variety of ways since researchers first began discussing the construct of coparenting in studies of these “intact” (nondivorced) families (e.g., Gable, Belsky, & Crnic, 1995; McHale, 1995; McHale, Kuersten, & Lauretti, 1996). Talbot and McHale’s (2004) definition of coparenting as “an enterprise undertaken by two or more adults working together to raise a child for whom they share responsibility” (p. 192) is perhaps the most inclusive of these and is the one used to organize this chapter. Generally, there has been agreement among scientists and practitioners about this core element of defining coparenting, though differences have arisen about how best to precisely operationalize coparenting. This chapter reviews major research thrusts in the field of coparenting as the construct has been defined and operationalized, including the development of coparenting, the factors that influence the development of coparenting, and what is known about effects of coparenting processes on children’s development.