A preliminary examination of the psychometric properties of the Coparenting Questionnaire and the Diabetes-Specific Coparenting Questionnaire in families of children with type I diabetes.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the structure and psychometric properties of a general childrearing [Coparenting Questionnaire (CQ)] and an adapted Diabetes-Specific Coparenting Questionnaire (DCQ) and compare general and diabetes-specific coparenting among two-parent families caring for a child with type I diabetes.

METHODS

Mothers and fathers of children (N=61) aged 8-12 years with type I diabetes completed self-report measures of marital functioning, parenting, and coparenting, including the CQ and DCQ.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses favored the hypothesized 3-factor model for mothers and fathers for the CQ and DCQ. The internal consistencies and convergent validities of the CQ and DCQ were adequate. Coparenting conflict and triangulation were significantly higher for general child management than diabetes-specific issues.

CONCLUSIONS

The CQ and DCQ represent two assessments that differentiate couples' cooperation, conflict, and triangulation coparenting behaviors for general and diabetes-specific issues, and may potentially help inform family-based interventions.