Ja. Arditti et M. Kelly, FATHERS PERSPECTIVES OF THEIR CO-PARENTAL RELATIONSHIPS POSTDIVORCE -IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY-PRACTICE AND LEGAL REFORM, Family relations, 43(1), 1994, pp. 61-67
Data from 225 divorced fathers were used to test the explanatory power
of a set of variables in predicting the quality of co-parental relati
onships postdivorce. A standard multiple regression analysis revealed
that a significant amount of variance in co-parental relationships was
explained by five of the ten variables under investigation. Fathers w
ho reported more positive relationships with their ex-wives: (a) were
more satisfied with their custody arrangements, (b) were more likely t
o blame themselves for the breakup of their marriage, (c) discussed a
greater number of topics with their ex-wives, (d) had higher education
al levels, and (e) reported greater feelings of closeness to their chi
ldren before the divorce. Implications of the findings for practice an
d legal reform are discussed.