Research article | Open Access
International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications 2026, Vol. 17(1) 21-36
Coparenting and Children's Developmental Adjustment: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways
pp. 21 - 36
Publish Date: June 28, 2026 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
This study investigates the direct and indirect relationships between coparenting, parenting behaviors, family conflict, family cohesion, and children’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment. Social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment are considered core indicators of children’s healthy development, while school adjustment is recognized as a key factor for long-term academic and psychosocial well-being. Previous research highlights that family dynamics—particularly the consistency, emotional warmth, and discipline strategies parents adopt—play a central role in shaping children’s adjustment. Within this context, coparenting has been conceptualized as a critical parental subsystem that directly and indirectly affects child development through parenting practices and family relationships. The study was conducted using a correlational research design. Children (n = 1,206) from different developmental stages (late childhood, early, middle, and late adolescence), as well as both maternal (n = 1,206) and paternal (n = 1,206) reports, across urban and rural settings were included as participants. A hypothetical model was proposed to test the direct and indirect relationships between coparenting, family conflict, family cohesion, positive and negative parenting behaviors and children’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment. The results indicated that supportive coparenting was associated with higher family cohesion and positive parenting, lower conflict and negative parenting, and consequently with better child adjustment across domains. The findings provide culturally specific insights into how coparenting functions in the local context, offering empirical evidence to inform the development of family-based intervention and prevention programs.
Keywords: Child adjustment, coparenting, family cohesion, family conflict, parenting behaviors, school adjustment.
APA 7th edition
Ozdemir, Y., Aksu, G., Seyhan, A.G., & SAGKAL, A.S. (2026). Coparenting and Children's Developmental Adjustment: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications, 17(1), 21-36.
Harvard
Ozdemir, Y., Aksu, G., Seyhan, A. and SAGKAL, A. (2026). Coparenting and Children's Developmental Adjustment: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications, 17(1), pp. 21-36.
Chicago 16th edition
Ozdemir, Yalcin, Gokhan Aksu, Ayse Gul Seyhan and Ali Serdar SAGKAL (2026). "Coparenting and Children's Developmental Adjustment: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways". International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications 17 (1):21-36.
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