The Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS)

Background:

The Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) is based on the conceptual framework of coparenting developed by Feinberg (2003). This framework included four overlapping domains: childrearing agreement, co-parental support/undermining, division of labor, and joint management of family dynamics. Feinberg (2003) proposed that coparenting plays a central role in family life and provides essential support and security for parents and children. Research has also found that a relationship exists between coparenting relations and parenting quality. The CRS was designed as a comprehensive self-report measure of the quality of coparenting in a family. It is comprised of 35 items and seven subscales. The subscales are: Coparenting Agreement, Coparenting Closeness, Exposure to Conflict, Coparenting Support, Coparenting Undermining, Endorse Partner Parenting, and Divison of Labor.  The instrument is ideal for further examining the role of coparenting in diverse family contexts.

Psychometrics:

Feinberg and colleagues (2012) provide information on the psychometric properties of the instrument.

Author of Tool:

Feinberg, Brown, & Kan

Key references:

Primary use / Purpose:

The CRS was developed to measure coparenting quality.

The Coparenting Relationship Scale

For each item, select the response that best describes the way you and your partner work together as parents:

0		1	2	3	4	5	6
Not true of us			A little bit true of us		Somewhat true of us		Very true of us
1	I believe my partner is a good parent.
2	My relationship with my partner is stronger now than before we had a child.
3	My partner asks my opinion on issues related to parenting.
4	My partner pays a great deal of attention to our child.
5	My partner likes to play with our child and then leave dirty work to me. (R)
6	My partner and I have the same goals for our child.
7	My partner still wants to do his or her own thing instead of being a responsible parent. (R)
8	It is easier and more fun to play with the child alone than it is when my partner is present too.
9	My partner and I have different ideas about how to raise our child. (R)
10	My partner tells me I am doing a good job or otherwise lets me know I am being a good parent.
11	My partner and I have different ideas regarding our child’s eating, sleeping, and other routines. (R)
12	My partner sometimes makes jokes or sarcastic comments about the way I am as a parent.
13	My partner does not trust my abilities as a parent.
14	My partner is sensitive to our child’s feelings and needs.
15	My partner and I have different standards for our child’s behavior. (R)
16	My partner tries to show that she or he is better than me at caring for our child.
17	I feel close to my partner when I see him or her play with our child.
18	My partner has a lot of patience with our child.
19	We often discuss the best way to meet our child’s needs.
20	My partner does not carry his or her fair share of the parenting work. (R)
21	When all three of us are together, my partner sometimes competes with me for our child’s attention.
22	My partner undermines my parenting.
23	My partner is willing to make personal sacrifices to help take care of our child.
24	We are growing and maturing together through experiences as parents.
25	My partner appreciates how hard I work at being a good parent.
26	When I’m at my wits end as a parent, partner gives me extra support I need.
27	My partner makes me feel like I’m best possible parent for our child.
28	The stress of parenthood has caused my partner and me to grow apart. (R)
29	My partner doesn’t like to be bothered by our child. (R)
30	Parenting has given us a focus for the future.
These questions ask you to describe things you do when both you and your partner are physically present together with your child (i.e. in the same room, in the car, on outings). Count only times when all three of you are actually within the company of one another (even if this is just a few hours per week). 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Never Sometimes Often Very Often (once or twice (once a day) (several times a week) a day)
	How often in a typical week, when all 3 of you are together, do you:
31	Find yourself in a mildly tense or sarcastic interchange with your partner?
32	Argue with your partner about your child, in the child’s presence?
33	Argue about your relationship or marital issues unrelated to your child, in the child’s presence?
34	One or both of you say cruel or hurtful things to each other in front of the child?
35	Yell at each other within earshot of the child?

(R) = Reverse score the item

Scale creation:

Coparenting Agreement = Items 6, 9, 11, 15

Coparenting Closeness = Items 2, 17, 24, 28, 30

Exposure to Conflict = Items 31-35

Coparenting Support = Items 3, 10, 19, 25, 26, 27

Coparenting Undermining = Items 8, 12, 13, 16, 21, 22

Endorse Partner Parenting = Items 1, 4, 7, 14, 18, 23, 29

Division of Labor = Items 5, 20

Brief Measure of Coparenting:

Items 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 16, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 33, 34

Sources of items:

Abidin & Bruner, 1995: 1,4,6,17,23

Cordova, 2001: 10,12,16

Frank et al., 1988: 5,7,13,18, 24, 25, 26, 27,30

Margolin, 1992: 3,15,22,29,34

McHale, 1997: 31,32,33

Original: 2,8,9,11,18,19,20,21, 28,35