Co-parenting is a differently than partner relationship only captures decisions and interaction that concern children. As a relatively new concept, co-parenting first conceptualized and studied among divorced families in the USA, in 1980s. Later, the relationship was conceptulized and examined in other family compositions such as still married, remarried, and never married. Co-parenting relationship is found to be affecting and being affected by individual (child and parent characterisctics) and relational factors (partner and parent-child relationship). There has been an extensive literature that show the outcomes of co-parenting relationship on child development and pyschological adjustment as well as other individual, relational, and family-level factors. This construct is yet to be conceptualized and examined in Turkish context. Especially considering the discussions around possible family law changes regarding joint custody, the concept of co-parenting relationship gains more importance and urgency. The current review article is written as a response to this need and calls for researchers as well as clinicians and social workers to be more attuned to this construct. The current article provides an extensive literature review on different theoretical and conceptual frameworks regarding the concept of co-parenting. Further, it summarizes the existing literature on the predictors and outcomes of co-parenting relationship.
Key words: Co-parenting, divorce, custody, parent-child relationship, family system
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