Coparenting quality and family quality of life in families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), present in childhood and are associated with needs in cognitive, social, academic, and adaptive domains. Parents of children with NDs face unique challenges, as they strive to meet the needs of their children. Having a parenting partner, or a coparent, with whom to share childrearing experiences and responsibilities can be beneficial. Individual family-member factors (e.g., child NDs) and family dynamics (e.g., coparenting) have the potential to impact family quality of life (FQOL), or the subjective sense of well-being within families. Objectives: The current study compared FQOL and coparenting quality across families of neurotypical (NT) children, children with clinically significant symptoms of ASD, ADHD, and co-occurring ASD and ADHD (ASD+ADHD), and between mother-father dyads. In addition, the extent to which coparenting quality predicts FQOL in neurodevelopmentally diverse families and the potential moderating role of child ND symptomology were explored. Method: 456 North American parents of children, ages 5 – 18 years, participated in an online survey including questions about coparenting quality and FQOL. Results: Mothers of NT children reported higher levels of coparenting quality and FQOL than mothers of children in the ADHD and ASD+ADHD groups. Fathers of NT children reported greater coparenting quality than fathers in the ASD, ADHD, and ASD+ADHD groups, and fathers’ coparenting quality was greater in the ADHD group than the ASD+ADHD group. Fathers of NT children reported greater FQOL than fathers in the ASD+ADHD group. No significant mother–father differences emerged within dyads. Coparenting quality significantly predicted FQOL, above and beyond effects of child age and child cognitive functioning for mothers and fathers in several neurodevelopmental groups. Child ND symptomology did not significantly moderate the association between coparenting quality and FQOL. Implications: This research expands upon existing knowledge on the connection between coparenting quality and FQOL of life in neurodevelopmentally diverse families. This research may inform the practices of parent and family support services, by aiding in identifying families who would benefit from coparenting interventions and emphasizing the importance of tailoring coparenting targets with neurodevelopment and family strengths in mind.