Interparental processes mitigating risk for psychological aggression during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for families, particularly those with young children, due to rapid shifts in routines and increased responsibilities. Corresponding increases in psychological aggression were documented. The present study examined interparental emotional intimacy and trust prior to pandemic onset as a resource facilitating successful coparenting and reducing risk for psychological aggression during the first 6 months of the pandemic in a sample of 146 couples parenting preschool-age children. Results suggest that prepandemic interparental emotional intimacy was a protective factor that promoted high quality coparenting during the first 6 months of the pandemic which, in turn, was associated with a lower probability of psychological aggression enacted toward mothers. Further, prepandemic intimacy predicted lower frequency of psychological aggression toward mothers and fathers independent of coparenting. Taken together, results point to emotional intimacy as an important interpersonal regulatory resource that supported healthy adjustment and coparenting and predicted lower risk of psychological aggression in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs designed to promote trust and closeness between partners and enhance the coparenting relationship may be important to facilitate family resilience during times of significant stress and adjustment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)