Associations Between Parents' Coparenting and Romantic Relationships and Adolescents' Psychological Outcomes

ABSTRACT Objective The current study explores associations between parents' reports of romantic and coparenting relationship quality and adolescents' psychological outcomes. Our findings can inform policymakers and practitioners about the nuances of interparental dynamics and help guide policies and interventions that better support adolescents' well‐being. Background Adolescents' psychological health is critical to their long‐term development. Unfortunately, the influence of interparental relationships remains understudied, even though a family systems perspective suggests that interparental dynamics have substantial implications for adolescent outcomes. Method Using data from 956 families in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing study, we examined associations between mothers' and fathers' reports of romantic and coparenting relationship quality at child age 9 and adolescent reported depression, anxiety, and positive well‐being at child age 15. Results Across both coparenting and romantic relationship quality, mothers' reports were more consistently associated with adolescent outcomes than fathers' reports. Across both parents, romantic relationship quality was more consistently associated with adolescent outcomes than coparenting quality. Additionally, the interaction between mothers' reports of coparenting and romantic relationship quality was significantly associated with adolescent anxiety and positive well‐being. Conclusion The current results highlight the differential impacts of coparenting and romantic relationships, and of maternal and paternal perspectives of these relationships on child well‐being. Implications Family interventions should seek to strengthen both romantic and coparenting relationships between parents to promote adolescent psychological wellbeing.