Prenatal Expectations as Predictors of Postnatal Coparenting: Moderation Effect of Psychological Distress

Objective: To investigate whether parents' prenatal expectations of coparenting predict their own and their spouse's postnatal coparenting quality, both at the individual level and in terms of daily variability, and whether prenatal psychological distress at the family level moderates these associations. Background: Previous research has shown a link between prenatal and postnatal coparenting, and between poorer coparenting and psychological distress. However, few studies have examined whether prenatal coparenting expectations impact both the level and variability of postnatal coparenting quality or consider psychological distress as a moderator of early coparenting development. Method: The coparenting relationship was examined with a longitudinal design that utilized survey data and daily diary data among 144 Finnish couples expecting their first child, through 6 months post-birth. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate both one's own (actor) and their spouse's (partner) associations between prenatal expectations of coparenting (measured by the CRS-CPV) and postnatal coparenting (as measured by the D-COP), and how prenatal psychological distress (assessed using the MHI-5) might moderate these associations. Results: Parents' prenatal expectations of coparenting predicted level of their own postnatal coparenting, but little of the variability in daily postnatal coparenting quality. Family's prenatal psychological distress shaped some associations between prenatal and postnatal coparenting. No gender differences were found. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the importance of both parents' prenatal expectations as an early indicator of coparenting and the risks of prenatal psychological distress for the later development of coparenting in early parenthood, even among parents with nonclinical levels of distress.