Parent-Grandparent Coparenting Relationship in Indonesian Multigenerational Families
Dewi Ilma Antawati (a*)
a) Faculty of Psychology, Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya
Doctor of Psychology, Airlangga University
Surabaya, Indonesia
dewi_raditya[at]fpsi.um-surabaya.ac.id
Abstract
Multi generational families are common in Indonesia, but research in this context is still very rare. This study is conducted to understand how grandparents and parents in the context of a multi generational family jointly carry out childcare using a qualitative case study approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with spouses of grandparents and parents from the lower middle class who lived together (correspondence) and had children under 7 years old. The results of the interviews were then analyzed using interactive analysis techniques from Miles and Huberman. The results of the interviews show that family care is the main responsibility and carried out jointly by the mother and grandmother, while the men in the family act as the head of the family, decision makers, and providers of the main financial needs. There are families who can do co-parenting well, but there are also mothers and grandmothers who face conflict in doing co-parenting. This article discusses patterns of conflicting and non-conflicting parenting alliances between mother and grandmother. This research raises questions for further research in the context of multigenerational families.
Keywords: Coparenting, Multigenerational family, Parenting
Topic: Psychology