Research tells us that children who see and hear coparenting disagreements feel bad about themselves and experience guilt, stress and anxiety. Poor coparenting relationships weaken the partnership between husbands and wives, and may cause children to worry about their parents' relationship. Parental disagreements and arguments about childrearing create a no-win situation for children. They don't know which parent to listen to, are unsure of how to behave, and feel responsible for their mother's and father's problems. Children are especially affected by unsupportive coparenting that includes negative emotions.
Parents commonly agree about some parenting matters and disagree about others.
However, research shows that the best situation for children is when parents engage in more supportive coparenting than unsupportive coparenting. Children do better when their mothers and fathers work together as a parenting team and support one another's efforts. Research shows that children's adjustment can be helped or hindered by the quality of marriage and coparenting relationships. When mothers and fathers, whether married or not, work to keep the coparenting relationship strong and supportive, children benefit. Because of the importance of supportive coparenting, mothers and fathers should cooperate.