The Roles of Mothers' Perceptions of Grandmothers' Gatekeeping and Fathers' Parenting Competence in Maternal Gatekeeping.

Objective: This study investigated how new mothers' perceptions of maternal grandmothers' gatekeeping behaviors and perceptions of fathers' parenting competence are associated with maternal gatekeeping behaviors. Background: In the development of coparenting relationships at the transition to parenthood, the roles of extended family members, although important, have received little research attention. Grandmothers' gatekeeping may serve as a reference for maternal gatekeeping behaviors, but its role depends on mothers' own perceptions of fathers' parenting competence. Method: Mothers from 172 dual-earner, different-gender couples reported their own mothers' gatekeeping behaviors and their own perceptions of fathers' parenting competence at 3 months postpartum. Maternal gatekeeping behaviors toward fathers were reported by mothers at both 3 and 9 months postpartum. Results: When mothers perceived that maternal grandmothers engaged in higher levels of gatekeeping behaviors, mothers engaged in more gate-opening behaviors but only when mothers perceived fathers as highly competent. There were no significant associations between mothers' perceptions of grandmothers' gatekeeping and maternal gate-closing behaviors. Conclusion: Adult mothers, who likely have developed their own sets of ideas about parenting, are still susceptible to support and criticism from their own mothers. Implications: Practitioners would do well to encourage expectant and new parents to consider the role of extended family in the development of their coparenting relationships, and to develop plans for support-seeking, boundary management, and negotiation of conflicts. To help reduce maternal gate-closing and enhance maternal gate-opening behaviors, practitioners could support fathers' development of parenting skills and help mothers develop awareness of fathers' skills.