Co-Parenting Programs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Family relations Vol. 70; no. 3; pp. 759 - 776
• Main Authors: Nunes, Cindy Eira, De Roten, Yves, El Ghaziri, Nahema, Favez, Nicolas, Darwiche, Joëlle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Minneapolis National Council on Family Relations 01-07-2021
• Subjects: Adjustment; Child discipline; Child Rearing; Childrearing practices; Children; Clinical trials; Cooperation; Coordination; Couples; Efficacy; Families & family life; Family Counseling; Family Programs; Family Relationship; Fathers; Medical research; Meta Analysis; Parent Child Relationship; Parent-child relations; Parenthood education; Parenting Styles; Parents & parenting; Program Design; Program Implementation; Psychoeducational treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials; Research Methodology; Romantic relationships; Skill development; Systematic review; Well being; Work skills
• ISSN: 0197-6664; 0197-6664
• DOI: 10.1111/fare.l2438

Objective: This article aims to provide an overview of the efficacy of co-parenting programs on outcomes related to child's adjustment, parents' well-being, and quality of the co-parenting, romantic, and parent-child relationships. Background: Numerous co-parenting programs have been developed, supported by empirical findings associating quality of co-parenting to the overall family well-being. However, to our knowledge, the efficacy of those programs has not yet been assessed. Method: This article included 38 articles corresponding to 27 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) presenting 23 programs. We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy of co-parenting programs and a review of programs to identify the ingredients of co-parenting programs that may contribute to this efficacy. Results: Results support a small but significant effect of co-parenting programs on outcomes related to parents' well-being and the quality of co-parenting and romantic relationships. Conclusion: Finally, despite the heterogeneity of the programs, some commonalities are identified, such as the use of psychoeducation and skills training. Implications: Our work supports the added value of co-parenting programs for both vulnerable families and families with no apparent major difficulties. Future directions in terms of study and program designs are proposed to promote high-quality research in this field.