The Impact of Undermining Coparenting on the Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Black Fathers: The Role of Depression and Restrictive Emotionality

ABSTRACT

The parenting literature has established the coparenting relationship as central to the parenting behaviors and outcomes of men. The construct of coparenting encompasses supportive efforts among individuals that facilitate the rearing of children and unsupportive actions that can undermine parenting efforts (Merrifield & Gamble, 2013). Few studies have examined undermining coparenting as an experience that shapes Black men’s health outcomes. In this study, we apply the social determinants of health framework to examine the impact of Black fathers’ perceptions of undermining coparenting on their self-reported ratings of mental and physical health. Using a nationally representative sample of Black men (n = 255), correlational analyses revealed perceptions of undermining coparenting to be a significant predictor of higher levels of anger and poorer perceptions of physical health. These relationships were found to be mediated by depressive symptoms and moderated by restrictive emotionality. It is recommended that the negative impact of undermining coparenting on health be considered as a potential comorbidity contributing to negative health outcomes for Black men. This study adds to the literature on coparenting, Black men’s health, and Black fatherhood more generally and urges policymakers and practitioners to consider undermining as an often overlooked, but significant, social determinant of health impacting the well-being of Black men. We also offer recommendations for promoting Black men’s health by educating families on the effects of undermining and offering the supports necessary for achieving positive coparenting dynamics.

KEYWORDS:

• Coparenting
• social determinants of health
• Black fathers
• mental health
• physical health

Acknowledgments

The first author thanks her students, Liz Ward and Abby Diaz, for their contributions to the development of the study’s implications for practice and policy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Dedication

This paper is dedicated to the first author’s father, George H. Lemmons, Jr., who experienced many struggles with coparenting, yet remained steadfast in his commitment to fathering.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.