Linking Family Functioning and Child's Socioemotional Behaviour: The Role of Coparenting

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Linking Family Functioning and Child's Socioemotional Behaviour: The Role of Coparenting
Language: English
Authors: Ana Isabel Cunha (ORCID 0000-0002-0515-707X), Marta Pereira Alves (ORCID 0000-0002-8074-7168), Sofia O. Major (ORCID 0000-0002-4643-2170)
Source: Early Child Development and Care. 2025 195(3):235-248.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Child Behavior, Parenting Styles, Parent Attitudes, Family Environment, Family Relationship, Social Behavior, Young Children, Conflict, Family Problems, Cooperation, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Portugal
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2025.2474662
ISSN: 0300-4430
1476-8275
Abstract: This study aims to explore the association between parents' perception of family functioning and children's difficulties and prosocial behaviour, and to test the mediating role of coparenting in this relationship. Participants were 324 Portuguese parents of children aged 3-9 years old. Results were calculated through the estimation of OLS regression-based models, controlling for respondent (child's mother or father) and for child's gender and age. Results showed that poor family functioning and more conflict in coparenting related to more difficulties and less prosocial behaviour in children. The associations between perceived family functioning and children's difficulties and prosocial behaviour were mediated by coparenting. First, more family problems enhance children's difficulties indirectly through the increase of parenting conflict and the decrease of cooperation. Second, a poorer family functioning indirectly decreases the frequency of children's prosocial behaviour through the increase of coparenting conflict. Practical implications for intervention with families with children are presented.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498177
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This study aims to explore the association between parents' perception of family functioning and children's difficulties and prosocial behaviour, and to test the mediating role of coparenting in this relationship. Participants were 324 Portuguese parents of children aged 3-9 years old. Results were calculated through the estimation of OLS regression-based models, controlling for respondent (child's mother or father) and for child's gender and age. Results showed that poor family functioning and more conflict in coparenting related to more difficulties and less prosocial behaviour in children. The associations between perceived family functioning and children's difficulties and prosocial behaviour were mediated by coparenting. First, more family problems enhance children's difficulties indirectly through the increase of parenting conflict and the decrease of cooperation. Second, a poorer family functioning indirectly decreases the frequency of children's prosocial behaviour through the increase of coparenting conflict. Practical implications for intervention with families with children are presented.
ISSN:0300-4430
1476-8275
DOI:10.1080/03004430.2025.2474662