Coparenting Quality During COVID-19: Exploring Gender Differences Using a Mixed Methods Approach

Sabrina Douglas; Katherine Morrison; Alison Miller; Jess Haines

doi:10.1177/0192513X241236555

Coparenting Quality During COVID-19: Exploring Gender Differences Using a Mixed Methods Approach

J Fam Issues. 2025 Jan;46(1):26-45. doi: 10.1177/0192513X241236555. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Authors

Sabrina Douglas¹, Katherine Morrison², Alison Miller³, Jess Haines¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
² Centre for Metabolism, Obesity & Diabetes Research, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
³ Department of Health Behaviour and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine potential differences in coparenting quality during the COVID-19 pandemic among mothers and fathers using an embedded mixed methods approach. The objectives were to compare mothers' and fathers' scores on the Coparenting Relationship Scale among 150 mother-father dyads, and to examine mothers' and fathers' perceptions of how COVID-19 influenced their coparenting quality using thematic analysis of 159 mothers' and 75 fathers' responses to an open-ended coparenting survey question. While total coparenting quality scores did not differ among mothers and fathers, fathers had significantly higher scores on the division of labour and endorsement subscales, and mothers had significantly higher scores on the undermining subscale. The qualitative thematic analysis identified five key themes: gendered changes to division of labour, increased hostility, increased teamwork, less alone time, and increased stress. Efforts to mitigate adverse pandemic outcomes on families should address coparenting quality.

Keywords: COVID-19; coparenting; families; gender; thematic analysis.