Ideal features of post-divorce co-parenting: family professionals’ constructions

Breakdown of the parental romantic relationship commonly throws parents’ lives into turmoil. However, research suggests a good post-divorce co-parental relationship has positive consequences for both family and individual wellbeing. Although family professionals have the potential to help divorced parents develop their co-parenting skills, their views have not been sufficiently researched. Therefore, this study focuses on 31 Finnish family professionals’ constructions of post-divorce co-parenting. Based on nine focus group interviews, thematic content analysis yielded three main themes relating to the ideal features of post-divorce co-parenting: the construction of co-parenting as ‘personal parenthood’, the ‘child’s best interests’ as the guiding principle for co-parenting and co-parenting as ‘fluent daily life’. The respondents underlined the importance of individual parenting for successful co-parenting, as well as compromise and flexibility between the ex-partners. Knowledge of family professionals’ perspectives on post-divorce co-parenting can aid in planning educational programmes, preparing interventions and working with divorced parents.