Prenatal representations of coparenting among unmarried first-time African American mothers.
Gaskin-Butler, Vikki T.; Engert, Tina; Markievitz, Meredith; Swenson, Camielle; McHale, James P.
Results of semistructured interviews with 45 pregnant unmarried first-time African
American mothers indicated a wide range of expectancies concerning the coparenting
relationship they would develop with others once their baby arrived. Most common coparenting
systems projected by respondents involved maternal grandmothers and/or
the babies’ fathers, though other caregivers were explicitly anticipated in a smaller
number of cases. Multiperson coparenting systems were the norm, and only 2 of 45
respondents anticipated that they would be entirely on their own with no coparental
system whatsoever. Qualitative analyses of mothers’ narratives about postbaby coparenting
systems revealed five main constructions: having thought about and anticipating
coparenting, positive in outlook; having thought about and anticipating
coparenting, but with mild concerns (conflict, unreliability); having thought about coparenting
and anticipating limited or no support; having thought about coparenting
and anticipating significant conflict and nonsupport; and having not thought much
about coparenting, being neither focused on nor worried about this issue. Illustrations
of each of these types are provided, and directions for family science and practice are
discussed.
Abstract only. Full-text article is available only through licensed access provided by the publisher. Published in Family Process, 51, 360-375. Members of the USF System may access the full-text of the article through the authenticated link provided below.
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