ABSTRACT
One of the biggest challenges faced by divorcing parents is how to continue parenting when the spousal relationship ends. These couples remain tied to one another through their parenting, even as they sever emotional, financial, and social ties associated with their marriage. How divorced parents interact over childrearing (referred to here as coparenting) has important implications for the well-being of both them and their children. Research consistently demonstrates the benefits for postdivorce adjustment of a cooperative coparental relationship versus one that is conflicted and hostile (Amato, 2000). In this chapter, we discuss several aspects of the coparental relationship following divorce. We begin with a discussion of how coparenting is defined and measured in the empirical literature. Next, we describe postdivorce coparenting patterns and some theoretical frameworks commonly used to explain and describe these relationships. We then discuss the factors influencing coparenting following divorce and the types of coparenting that work best (and for whom). Finally, we address limitations of the current research and suggest directions for future research.
