1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«This study set out to examine whether the quality of mother – child and father – child dyadic interactions at 18 months was associated with the quality of the coparenting relationship during mother – father – child interactions in kindergarten.» (p. 3)

Questions/Hypothèses :
Authors «hypothesized that the quality of both mother – child and father – child early interactions would be predictive of later coparenting quality.» (p. 4)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample consisted of 136 intact two-parent families (76 boys and 60 girls). Families were recruited from birth lists randomly generated and provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Criteria for participation were full-term pregnancy and the absence of physical or psychological abnormality in the child. Most parents were White (92% of mothers, 83% of fathers). Mothers were between 20 and 45 years old (M=32.1), and fathers between 23 and 58 years old (M=34.1).» (p. 4)

Instruments :
Questionnaires
Grille d’observation

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«The results revealed that the quality of early father – child but not mother – child interactions was associated with subsequent coparenting: fathers who had higher-quality dyadic interactions with their toddler were observed to be better coordinated with their spouse while jointly interacting with their child four and a half years later. This prediction held above child temperament in early childhood and both parents’ current marital satisfaction, and was independent of the quality of mother – child interactions. The finding that father – child but not mother – child interactions were related to coparenting may seem unexpected in light of previous suggestions that mothers may have a greater impact than fathers on family-level interactions […]. There are different ways in which the quality of early father – child interactions may statistically predict later coparenting processes. [For example], the links observed here could be causal, such that the dyadic relationship that the father and child have been developing across early childhood has a direct influence on triadic processes. A father who has built a positive relationship with his child since toddlerhood is likely to know his child very well, and to be relatively stress-free while interacting with him or her together with his spouse […].» (p. 9-10)