Values and co-parenting

Objectives. The co-parenting construct refers to the partners' ability to negotiate their roles, support each other, respect each other, and collaborate for the sake of their child. Co-parenting is based on four fundamental domains: support, the division of roles, agreement and disagreement and parental responsibility. Here are some fundamental dimensions: openness to change, conservatism, self-affirmation and self-transcendence. The main objective of this research, which involves both partners of the couple, is to detect whether there is a relationship between the dimensions of the co-parenting and the couple’s values. Materials and methods. For this research 94 heterosexual couples were recruited: men were aged between 23-58 years (M = 44.21; SD = 6.97) and women between 25-54 years (M = 41, 25; SD = 6.82). The questionnaire applied to the partners includes the following measurement scales: Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and Co-parenting Relationship Scales (CRS). Bivariate correlations were calculated in order to identify associations among studied variables. Moreover, two linear regression models were performed in order to examine the predictive role of couple values on men and women co-parenting perceived quality. Results. Pearson's r correlations were calculated among the couple values (as perceived by each partner) and the dimensions of the co-parenting. For men, the results showed significant correlation: conservatism value with co-parenting closeness (r = .28, p < .05); openness to change with co-parenting closeness (r = .31, p < .05) and co-parenting support (r = .37, p < .05); self-transcendence with co-parenting agreement (r = .35, p < .05), co-parenting closeness (r = .46, p < .05), co-parenting support (r = .44, p < .05), and co-parenting underpinning (r = -.22, p < .05). For women, the results showed significant correlations: conservatism value with co-parenting agreement (r = .30, p < .05) and co-parenting closeness (r = .35, p < .05); the openness to change value with co-parenting closeness (r = .37, p < .05) and co-parenting support (r = .41, p < .05); the self-transcendence value with co-parenting closeness (r = .30, p < .05) and co-parenting support (r = .38, p < .05). Results from the two regression models showed that for men, the couple values explained almost 30% of the co-parenting variability (R2 = .294, p < .05), while for women almost 20% (R2 = .189, p < .05). In particular, the analysis of beta coefficients highlights how the self-transcendence value is the most important predictor of co-parenting for men (β = .412, p < .05), while for women it highlights how conformism is the most important predictor of co-parenting (β = .239, p < .05). Conclusions. This study highlighted the predictive role of couple values, such as respecting one's own cultural traditions, respecting the rules, being tolerant, ensuring the well-being of others by mitigating impulsive behaviors, on co-parenting quality. The presence of these values could allow both partners to implement supportive and collaborative behaviors in rearing their children, and to feel close and allied during the stages of their child's development. It is therefore evident the important role that couple's values play as an innovative construct in contributing to the maintenance and promotion of generative behaviors within the couple.