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Abstract
This study examined financial distress, conflict management, and co-parenting relationship quality among couples within the child welfare services. The sample consisted of 254 cohabiting heterosexual co-parenting dyads, married and unmarried. Using an Actor-Partner-Interdependence approach, this study tested the mediating effect of couples’ use of conflict strategies on the association between their own financial distress and perception of support from their co-parenting partner. Mediated actor effects were found in both genders, and one partner effect was found in the cross-partner paths. The study further investigated whether these mediating effects differ between married and unmarried couples. Findings imply conflict management could potentially explain co-parenting relationship quality when couples are financially distressed. Implications were discussed for couple relationship enhancement programs.