City Research Online

Abstract

Within the UK, alongside many other countries, it is legally and socially assumed that every child is born with two parents. Recently there has been an increased societal interest in intentional multi-parent families, where more than two adults are actively involved in co-parenting a child, yet little research has explored experiences within these families. This study addresses this gap, exploring the way in which parenting roles and responsibilities are negotiated within LGBTQ+ intentional three-parent families in the UK. This article draws upon a unique data-set of three-parent families, including interviews with twelve LGBTQ+ parents in four families in the UK. Data were analysed using a novel analytical approach, qualitative triadic analysis, which allows for the analysis of participants’ experiences at an individual and family level. Family systems theory, and the underutilised theoretical concept of emotional triangles, were used to make sense of the data. Three themes were identified in the data, all addressing the research question ‘How do three-parent families negotiate parenting roles and responsibilities?’. Findings highlight that participants managed their parenting arrangement in two different ways, either sharing parenting responsibilities equally or dividing parenting roles, with primary and secondary caregivers taking on different responsibilities. Participants discussed the importance on flexibility and communication in managing their arrangement and all participants reported positive co-parenting relationships. This study has a number of implications: methodologically and theoretically, this study highlights the usefulness of systemic qualitative approaches to studying diverse families. Legally, findings highlight the restrictiveness of two-parent models.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	©American Psychological Association, 2024. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. The final article is available, upon publication, at: www.apa.org/pubs/journals/fam/index
Publisher Keywords:	co-parenting, multi-parenthood, LGBTQ+, family diversity
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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