AUTHOR=Zou Shengqi , Wu Xinchun , Liu Chang 

TITLE=Differential Patterns of the Division of Parenthood in Chinese Family: Association With Coparenting Behavior

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01608

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01608

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>The current study explored the division of parenthood in Chinese families with adolescents by identifying the parental involvement patterns in the data obtained from 786 pairs of parents. Division-of-parenthood patterns were created via factor mixture modeling using self-reported three dimensions of father and mother involvement. Three differential division-of-parenthood patterns were identified: (a) <italic>parent-cooperation pattern</italic>, where moderate and equivalent involvement existed between mothers and fathers; (b) <italic>mother-dominated pattern</italic>, where mother involvement was particularly greater than father involvement; and (c) <italic>father-dominated pattern</italic>, where father involvement was particularly greater than mother involvement. Families were more likely to be in the mother- or the father-dominated pattern as their levels of positive coparenting behaviors increased. By contrast, as the levels of paternal conflict behavior increased, families were likely to be in the mother-dominated pattern. This study highlighted parents’ individual parenting role, the diverse division-of-parenthood patterns in the family, and the important role of coparenting behavior.</p>