The Role of Coparenting in the Association Between Parental Neuroticism and Harsh Intrusive Parenting

This study examined the moderating role of the coparenting relationship in the associations between neuroticism and harsh intrusive parenting for mothers and fathers. Data came from a longitudinal study of 182 U.S. dual-earner, primiparous couples and their infant children, and were derived through self-report and observational assessments across 3 waves of data collection. Sequential regression analyses indicated that greater undermining coparenting behavior was positively associated with maternal harsh intrusive behavior. Moderation analyses revealed that only when undermining coparenting was high was maternal neuroticism significantly associated with greater harsh maternal intrusiveness. We did not find associations of father neuroticism and coparenting with paternal harsh intrusive parenting behavior. Findings suggest that undermining coparenting behavior has both theoretical and practical significance for understanding the associations between maternal neuroticism and mothers' harsh intrusive parenting. Practitioners guiding the development and refinement of parenting interventions may find it prudent to include the coparenting subsystem when working with families.