Mothers' Perspectives on Co-Parenting with African American Non-Resident Fathers.
Jen'nea Sumo, Wrenetha Julion, Joi Henry and 1 others
PMID 34666606WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve mothers said they felt motherhood was constant, wanted fathers to be present, and saw respectful communication as key to co-parenting.
They wanted mediation or counseling. These are experiences, not tested outcomes.
Key findings
01Mothers described three themes: holding down parenting, children watching, and communication as key to co-parenting.
02Mothers said they felt motherhood was constant and fathers could hand over responsibilities, and they reported resentment and a desire for equal parenting.
03Mothers said communicating well helped them partner, but some found communication challenging and wanted mediation or counseling.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The authors state the findings cannot be generalized because the sample was 12 mothers and was homogeneous. All mothers lived with their children and co-parented with nonresident fathers, so the study does not represent all mothers or all co-parenting arrangements. The fathers had signed up for a fatherhood intervention study, so the families may differ from families whose fathers do not seek such programs. The mothers who agreed to be interviewed may differ from mothers who declined.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest statement is provided. The DAAD study, from which mothers were recruited, was NIH-funded.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that mediation, counseling, or communication training improves co-parenting or child outcomes. It interviewed 12 mothers and reported their experiences, not a tested intervention.