Coparenting and Parent-Children Conflict in Adolescents Involved in Restorative Practices

Abstract Coparenting is defined as the relationship established between caregivers and the way they share the care for their children. The reverberations in adolescents may be associated with behavioral problems - antisocial behavior. The present study investigated the predictive effect of the dimensions of coparenting and parent-child conflict on antisocial behavior of adolescents in conflict with the law in the context of restorative practices. The survey sample included 62 adolescents linked to a project conducted by the Public Prosecution Service (MP) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, who answered four scales. The results, based on linear regression, support that the variables - family coparental triangulation, intensity and reason for conflict with the father - are predictive of mild antisocial behavior. In severe cases, family coparental conflict had the greatest predictive power. These data highlight the need to evaluate the family-coparental relationship, in order to support protective measures that guarantee adolescent mental health, seeking their protection against risky behaviors.