EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COPARENTING QUALITY, PARENTING STRESS, PARENTING EFFICACY AND INCARCERATION

Abstract

Data was gathered from 232 participants that were recruited to participate in this study as part of a larger, federally-funded healthy marriage and relationship education initiative in a southern state. The aims of the present study are to (1) to examine the relationship between the incarcerated parents perceived coparenting quality and their level of parenting stress experienced by the incarcerated parent, (2) to examine the relationship between parenting efficacy and coparenting quality, (3) to examine the relationship between parenting stress and parenting efficacy, and (4) to examine whether the relationship between parenting stress and parenting efficacy is moderated by coparenting relationship quality. Data was collected through a 160 item questionnaire that assessed the participants’ behaviors, experiences, beliefs, and attitudes concerning their individual functioning, relationships and family in along with sociodemographic information. Overall, results of the study indicated that coparenting quality, parenting stress and parenting efficacy were all affected by a parents’ incarceration.