Coparenting relationship and psychological symptom severity of adolescents: Within the theoretical framework of emotional security theory

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between specific dimensions of coparenting relationship and psychological symptom severity of adolescents within the theoretical frameworks of Emotional Security Theory. Mediation and moderated mediation models were tested for both parents. In the mediation models, it was expected that specific dimensions of coparenting relationship would predict emotional security, which, in turn, would be associated with psychological symptom severity of adolescents. In the moderated mediation models, it was expected that the significance of the indirect effect of coparenting relationship on psychological symptom severity of adolescents through emotional security would differ in accordance with the levels of emotional availability of parents. The sample consisted of 196 mother-adolescent and 175 father-adolescent dyads. Parents completed Coparenting Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Adolescents completed Emotional Security Scale, Lum Emotional Availability of Parents (LEAP) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Mediation analysis revealed that coparenting conflict predicted the psychological symptom severity of adolescents through emotional insecurity. A noteworthy finding was the moderating effect of maternal emotional availability in this mediated effect. A low level of maternal emotional availability significantly moderated the relationship between coparenting conflict, emotional insecurity, and psychological symptom severity of adolescents. Conversely, this relationship was not observed at high level of maternal emotional availability. This study elucidates the deleterious role of emotional insecurity in predicting psychological symptom severity of adolescents within the context of coparenting conflict. Furthermore, it underscores the crucial protective function of heightened emotional availability of mothers for adolescents who experienced coparenting conflict.