Family Men: Fathers as Coparents in Diverse Contexts and Family Structures - Volume III

Building on the first volume and second volume, this third volume on ‘Family Men: Fathers as Coparents in Diverse Contexts and Family Structures' serves to expand on past research in this field. The field of family psychology and parenting has seen significant developments in how it conceptualizes the role of fathers within coparenting frameworks. Mother-focused models of science grow outdated as fathers are now regarded as pivotal partners in childrearing, affecting not only children’s developmental trajectories but also the functioning and cohesion of the broader family system. Expanding on foundational theories, recent research highlights the multiplicity of ways fathers contribute to coparenting, especially as contemporary families span a broad spectrum of structures, from traditional nuclear families to same-sex, single parent, and elective coparenting arrangements. Coparenting continued to be of interest to family systems researchers, clinicians, as well as intervention and preventionists, due to this construct capturing whole-family dynamics. Despite notable progress, the literature has often lagged in addressing the intersectional realities of fathers’ experiences and wellbeing, particularly across different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and family transitions.Recent studies have shown specific mechanisms by which fathers’ mental health and psychological wellbeing, particularly paternal perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress, impacts coparenting quality and, in turn, children’s social-emotional, cognitive, and language development. Meta-analyses have challenged long-standing assumptions about the “ideal” parental dyad. Advancements in understanding policy influences, such as paternity leave, demonstrate promising associations between structural support and enhanced coparenting equity. Yet, questions persist in underexplored domains such as the coparenting experiences of single and non-resident fathers, responses to family transitions (e.g., post-divorce), and the integration of clinical psychological practices that support diverse paternal contributions.This Research Topic aims to broaden the empirical and theoretical understanding of fathers as coparents across contemporary family configurations. The objective is to explore how paternal mental health, policy, and family processes interact to shape child development outcomes and relational dynamics in families. Contributions are encouraged that expand knowledge about coparenting among underrepresented father groups, identify mechanisms linking paternal experiences to child and family wellness, and catalyze the translation of new insights into effective clinical, community, and policy interventions.To gather further insights in exploring fathers’ roles across diverse family forms, backgrounds, and life transitions, this collection welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Paternal mental health and psychological wellbeing impact on coparenting quality and child development• Resident and non-resident fathers’ coparenting experiences• Combined and comparative perspectives on same-sex, opposite-sex, and elective coparenting couples• The roles of genetically-related, adoptive, foster, and step-fathers• Coparenting dynamics among single fathers and within platonic (e.g., PACT) arrangements• Family adjustments during key transitions (e.g., birth of subsequent children, separation, or divorce)• Influence of paternity leave policies on family roles and coparenting equity• Racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic influences shaping paternal involvement• Development and evaluation of clinical and psychological interventions to support fathers and enhance coparenting outcomes Topic editors: Sarah E. DeMartini, Nicola Carone, Lauren Altenburger, Martin I. Gallegos Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78325/family-men-fathers-as-coparents-in-diverse-contexts-and-family-structures---volume-iii