Experiences of intergenerational co‐parenting during the postpartum period in modern China: A qualitative exploratory study

Most studies conducted in the West on the role played by intergenerational families in co‐parenting have focused mostly on families with a single mother or those in difficult circumstances, while little is known about the experiences of members of intergenerational intact families during the early p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nursing inquiry 2021-07, Vol.28 (3), p.e12403-n/a
Main Authors: Xiao, Xiao, Loke, Alice Yuen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child care
Chinese families
Content analysis
Division of labor
Ecological Model of Co‐parenting
Ecological studies
Families & family life
Family support
Fathers
Grandmothers
infant care
Infants
intergenerational families
Intergenerational relationships
Mothers
Nursing
Parents & parenting
postpartum
Postpartum period
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Summary:Most studies conducted in the West on the role played by intergenerational families in co‐parenting have focused mostly on families with a single mother or those in difficult circumstances, while little is known about the experiences of members of intergenerational intact families during the early postpartum period. This study aimed to explore the intergenerational co‐parenting experiences of young parents and grandmothers in China, focusing on how they shared the responsibility of caring for the new mother and infant during the postpartum period. A total of 16 eligible intergenerational intact families, including 16 mothers, 15 fathers and 12 grandmothers, were interviewed. The data set was analysed using the approach of directed content analysis guided by Feinberg's Ecological Model of Co‐parenting. The data were categorized into four themes: ‘division of labour’, ‘postpartum and infant care agreement’, ‘support‐undermining’ and ‘joint family management’. An additional theme, ‘expressed a need for family support’, emerged from the data on these intergenerational families. The findings emphasize the importance of intergenerational co‐parenting relationships in families where two generations co‐parent the newborn together.
ISSN:1320-7881
1440-1800
DOI:10.1111/nin.12403