Co-parenting, parental competence and problem behaviours in children: examining differential parental roles

In recent years, the increase in child problem behaviours has become a significant public health concern. It is crucial to understand the complex dynamics between parental co-parenting, parenting competence, and child problem behaviours to develop effective interventions. This study explored the intricate relationship between parental co-parenting, parenting sense of competence, and child problem behaviours in a sample of 407 parent-child pairs from Shanghai, China. Findings indicated that neither maternal nor paternal perceived co-parenting significantly predicts child problem behaviours directly. However, maternal parenting sense of competence emerges as a significant mediator between maternal perceived co-parenting (both supportive and non-supportive) and child problem behaviours. This highlights the pivotal role of mothers as primary caregivers in shaping parenting dynamics and child outcomes. Conversely, paternal parenting sense of competence does not mediate the relationship between paternal perceived co-parenting and child behaviours, suggesting a nuanced dynamic within paternal care-giving roles. The study underscores theoretical contributions, validating the theory of inconsistent compensation effect and emphasizing the primary caregiver effect within the Chinese family context.