Patterns of bonding and coping in couples raising children with atypical and typical development

ABSTRACT Objective This study explored combined patterns of parental and spousal functioning (parental bonding and couple's coping) from the perspectives of couples raising children with atypical or typical development. Background Raising children with atypical development can have a profound impact on the family system, and these families' experiences can differ significantly from those of families with typically developing children. Method We used data from 243 Hungarian parental couples raising children with atypical ( n = 102) or typical ( n = 141) development and explored patterns of combined spousal (including positive dyadic coping and negative dyadic coping) and parental functioning (including parental care and parental overprotection). Results The latent profile analysis revealed four types of parental bonding and couple's coping: “resilient couples,” “vulnerable couples,” “ambivalent moms, super dads,” and “good enough moms, ambivalent dads.” These distinct types of parental and spousal functioning differed significantly in parental stress levels, relationship satisfaction, life satisfaction, and perceptions of their children's behavioral and psychological problems. Conclusion The joint contributions of spousal functioning and parental functioning can form meaningful configurations in the common micro‐worlds of couples. Implications Professionals working with children and families could benefit from assessing spousal coping in addition to parental bonding, as it may help them better understand the parenting dynamics. Mutual systemic support between parents can contribute to more adaptive spousal and parental functioning and, thereby, their children's health and well‐being.