Shared Parenting Experiences in Kinship Care: The Role of Kinship Family Demographics, ACEs, Birthparent Involvement, and Attitudes Toward Shared Parenting

Background and Purpose: Shared parenting in kinship care occurs when caregivers collaborate with birth parents to raise the child (Child Welfare Information Gateway, n.d.). This can benefit the child and family, but some families struggle with birth parent involvement due to the circumstances that led them to become caregivers. Previous qualitative research identified factors influencing shared parenting, including family trauma, birth parent involvement, and family dynamics (Klein-Cox et al., 2024). However, no quantitative research has examined this topic. This study aims to examine the associations between kinship family demographics, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), birth parent involvement, attitudes toward shared parenting, and caregivers’ shared parenting experiences.

Methods: We analyzed a sample of 133 kinship caregivers who completed an online survey and had some birth parent contact to understand predictors associated with caregivers’ perceptions of shared parenting. We controlled for caregiver characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, gender, income, kinship arrangement, family connection), child characteristics (e.g., age, disability status, child welfare involvement), prevalent ACEs in this sample (e.g., poverty; mental health, serious illness/disabilities; unstable housing/homelessness; witnessing domestic violence; neglect), total ACEs, parent involvement, and attitudes toward shared parenting. Mother and father involvement were measured using frequencies from a list of contact activities (e.g., phone calls, visits, communication about the child). Shared parenting experience was measured through nine questions on a five-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Descriptive, bivariate analyses (t-test, ANOVA), and multiple linear regression were conducted using STATA 17.0.

Results: Ninety-four percent of respondents were female and more than 60% were over age 55. Fifty-eight percent identified as White, while 32% identified as Black or African American. The mean shared parenting experiences score was 2.79 out of 5. Bivariate analyses revealed several significant associations. Black or African American caregivers reported higher levels of shared parenting experiences compared to White caregivers (F = 6.13, p = 0.003). Caregivers were more likely to support shared parenting if the child did not have a disability (t = 2.17, p = 0.03) and had not experienced poverty (t = 3.54, p = 0.006), parental mental health issues (t = 3.31, p = 0.0013), parental serious illness or disabilities (t = 3.28, p = 0.0014), exposure to domestic violence (t = 2.94, p = 0.004), or child neglect (t = 2.71, p = 0.008). Multiple linear regression analysis identified several significant predictors of shared parenting perceptions. Mother involvement (B = 0.03, p = 0.023) and father involvement (B = 0.03, p = 0.023) were positively associated with shared parenting perceptions. However, ACEs related to parental mental health were negatively associated with shared parenting perceptions (B = -0.50, p = 0.021).

Conclusions and Implications: Bivariate findings suggest that perceptions of shared parenting vary based on race and a family’s current and past experiences. Multivariate results highlight potential strategies to promote shared parenting in kinship care, including addressing trauma and enhancing both parents’ involvement through more frequent interactions, such as calls, visits, and shared activities. These engagements may positively influence kinship caregivers’ openness to shared parenting.