دانشگاه اصفهان پژوهش های علوم شناختی و رفتاری 2251-7642 16 1 2026 08 23 Psychometric Properties of the Multi-Dimensional Co-Parenting After Divorce Questionnaire in the Iranian Population ویژگی‌های روانسنجی پرسشنامۀ چندبعدی هم‌والدگری بعد از طلاق در جامعۀ ایرانی 137 162 30569 10.22108/cbs.2026.145145.2012 FA علیرضا پژمان دانشجو دکتری روان شناسی بالینی،دانشجو،گروه روانشناسی بالینی،دانشکده روانشناسی و علوم تربیتی،دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی،تهران،ایران مهتاب بیرانوند کارشناسی ارشد روان شناسی تربیتی،دانشجو،گروه روان شناسی تربیتی،دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روان شناسی،دانشگاه الزهرا، تهران، ایران لیلا میراحمدی استادیار گروه مشاوره، ،دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روان شناسی، دانشگاه اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران Journal Article 2025 05 06 Given the rising divorce rate in Iran and the critical role of co-parenting quality in children's mental health, a valid instrument to assess this construct is essential. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Co-Parenting Scale for Dissolved Relationships (MCS-DR) within the Iranian population. In this cross-sectional psychometric study, the Persian version of the questionnaire (MCS-DR-F) was administered to a sample of 207 divorced parents. The factor structure of the questionnaire was evaluated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed via Cronbach's alpha (ranging from 0.756 to 0.880), McDonald's omega (0.742 to 0.872), and composite reliability. Convergent validity was examined using the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) index (exceeding 0.50), while discriminant validity was assessed using the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations (HTMT). To evaluate criterion validity, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) was utilized. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between conflict dimensions and parenting stress (r = 0.482, p < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation between support and parenting stress (r = -0.395, p < 0.01). The results confirmed that the four-factor structure of the questionnaire—comprising "Support," "Overt Conflict," "Covert Conflict-Internally Regulated," and "Covert Conflict-Externally Regulated"—demonstrated a good fit with the research data (CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.06). The findings indicate that the Persian version of the MCS-DR is a valid instrument for assessing various dimensions of post-divorce co-parenting in Iranian society. It can be effectively utilized in research, clinical interventions, and legal contexts related to divorce and child custody. Furthermore, the instrument demonstrated comparable applicability across both mothers and fathers, with no significant gender differences observed in any of the four co-parenting dimensions. Additionally, cultural differences observed in the correlation patterns between co-parenting dimensions, compared to studies conducted in other cultures, may reflect specific cultural characteristics of the Iranian context.<br /><strong>Introduction</strong><br />Divorce profoundly transforms family structures and carries far-reaching consequences for children's psychological well-being. In Iran, the divorce rate reached 47% in early 2023, rising to 67% in Tehran (National Organization for Civil Registration, 2023). Research consistently demonstrates that post-divorce interparental conflict is associated with behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression in children, while cooperative co-parenting serves as a protective factor for their mental health and academic functioning (Ferraro et al., 2016; Van Dijk et al., 2020). Co-parenting after divorce refers to the shared parental responsibility in raising children following marital dissolution and has been identified as a key mechanism in predicting children's post-separation mental health (Lamela & Figueiredo, 2016).<br />The construct is multidimensional, encompassing co-parenting support and conflict, the latter manifesting as overt (direct, hostile exchanges) or covert conflict involving indirect tactics such as triangulating children or undermining the other parent (McHale et al., 2011). Despite its significance, covert conflict remains understudied due to measurement limitations. Of 21 existing co-parenting instruments, only eight assessed covert conflict, and only two targeted divorced families specifically (Mollà Cusí et al., 2020). The MCS-DR (Ferraro et al., 2018) addresses this gap by simultaneously measuring all four co-parenting dimensions and has demonstrated adequate reliability in Spain (α = 0.72–0.89) and Japan (α = 0.71–0.81). However, its psychometric properties had not been examined in Iran, where societal norms restrict post-divorce spousal contact and no validated co-parenting instrument for divorced families existed (Nikparvar et al., 2021). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Persian MCS-DR within the Iranian context.<br /><strong> </strong><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />This cross-sectional psychometric study employed a descriptive-correlational design with CFA. The population comprised divorced parents in Iran with at least one child under 18. Sampling was conducted via convenience and snowball methods through online platforms (Eitaa, Telegram, and Shad) during 2024. Based on Bentler and Chou's (1987) guideline of 5–15 participants per item, and accounting for 15% attrition, 253 participants were recruited. After excluding incomplete or invalid responses, 207 divorced parents remained (51% female, 49% male; mean age = 41.75, <em>SD</em> = 6.32). Mean marriage duration was 9.24 years (<em>SD</em> = 4.18), mean time since divorce was 3.65 years (<em>SD</em> = 2.14), and 70% held primary custody.<br />The Persian MCS-DR-F was developed via forward-backward translation (Brislin et al., 1986), reviewed by two specialists for cultural adequacy, and piloted on 15 participants before final deployment. The instrument comprises 22 items on a five-point Likert scale covering four subscales. The Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (PSI-SF; Abidin, 1995; Iranian validation: Fadaei et al., 2011, α = 0.90) assessed criterion validity. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 and Amos-26.<br /><strong> </strong><br /><strong>Results</strong><br />CFA confirmed the four-factor structure with good model fit: χ²/df = 2.03; RMSEA = 0.062; CFI = 0.95; TLI = 0.94; GFI = 0.914; SRMR = 0.068. All factor loadings exceeded 0.40. Internal consistency was satisfactory: Support (α = 0.880, ω = 0.872, CR = 0.890, AVE = 0.551), Overt Conflict (α = 0.871, ω = 0.872, CR = 0.879, AVE = 0.537), Self-Controlled Covert Conflict (α = 0.756, ω = 0.759, CR = 0.768, AVE = 0.501), and Externally-Controlled Covert Conflict (α = 0.777, ω = 0.742, CR = 0.868, AVE = 0.504). All AVE values exceeded 0.50, confirming convergent validity, and all HTMT ratios fell below 0.85 (range: 0.057–0.569), confirming discriminant validity. Criterion validity was supported by a significant positive correlation between Overt Conflict and parental distress (r = 0.482, <em>p</em> < 0.01) and a negative correlation between Support and parental distress (r = −0.395, <em>p</em> < 0.01). No significant gender differences were found across any co-parenting dimension (<em>p</em> > 0.05).<br /><strong>Discussion and Conclusion</strong><br />The present study confirmed that the Persian MCS-DR-F possesses sound psychometric properties for assessing post-divorce co-parenting in Iran. The four-factor structure was replicated consistently with the original instrument and cross-cultural validations in Spain and Japan, underscoring its structural robustness across contexts. The adequate measurement of covert conflict dimensions is particularly noteworthy, as this domain has historically been neglected in co-parenting assessment tools (Mollà Cusí et al., 2020). The positive correlation between conflict subscales and parenting stress aligns with theoretical models positing that antagonistic co-parenting heightens parental distress and compromises parenting quality (Feinberg, 2003). The absence of gender differences enhances the instrument's applicability to both mothers and fathers—a practically important finding for clinical and legal use. Cultural differences in intercorrelation patterns, compared to Western studies, likely reflect Iran's sociocultural norms, including restricted post-divorce contact and family-centered values (Nikparvar et al., 2021). Limitations include convenience sampling, reliance on self-report measures, and the absence of test-retest reliability data. Future research should employ larger and geographically diverse samples, incorporate both parents' perspectives simultaneously, and examine measurement invariance across custody and gender groups. Practically, the MCS-DR-F can be utilized by clinicians to identify dysfunctional co-parenting patterns, by family courts to inform custody decisions, and by counselors designing post-divorce support programs.<br /><strong> </strong><br /><strong> </strong><br /><strong> </strong> پژوهش حاضر با هدف بررسی ویژگی‌های روان‌سنجی پرسشنامه چندبعدی هم‌والدگری پس از طلاق (MCS-DR) در جامعه ایرانی انجام شد. با توجه به افزایش نرخ طلاق در ایران و اهمیت کیفیت رابطه هم‌والدگری در سلامت روانی کودکان، وجود ابزاری معتبر برای سنجش این سازه ضروری است. در این مطالعه مقطعی، نسخه فارسی پرسشنامه MCS-DR-F روی نمونه‌ای متشکل از 207 والد طلاق‌گرفته اجرا شد. ساختار عاملی پرسشنامه با استفاده از تحلیل عاملی تأییدی بررسی و پایایی آن از طریق آلفای کرونباخ(756/0 تا 880/0) ، امگای مک‌دونالد(742/0 تا 872/0) و پایایی ترکیبی ارزیابی گردید. روایی همگرا با شاخص AVE (بالاتر از50/0) و روایی واگرا با شاخص HTMT مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. برای سنجش روایی ملاکی، از پرسشنامه استرس والدینی فرم کوتاه (PSI-SF) استفاده شد که همبستگی معناداری بین ابعاد تعارض و استرس والدینی(482/0=r ، 01/0 p<) و همبستگی منفی بین حمایت و استرس والدینی(395/0 -=r ، 01/0 p<) نشان داد. نتایج تأیید کرد که ساختار چهار عاملی پرسشنامه شامل "حمایت"، "تعارض آشکار"، "تعارض پنهان با تنظیم درونی" و "تعارض پنهان با تنظیم بیرونی" با داده‌های پژوهش برازش مناسبی دارد (CFI=0.92، RMSEA=0.06). یافته‌های این پژوهش نشان می‌دهد که نسخه فارسی پرسشنامه MCS-DR ابزاری معتبر برای سنجش ابعاد مختلف هم‌والدگری پس از طلاق در بافت فرهنگی ایران است و می‌تواند در پژوهش‌ها، مداخلات بالینی و حوزه‌های حقوقی مرتبط با طلاق و حضانت فرزندان مورد استفاده قرار گیرد. همچنین، تفاوت‌های فرهنگی در الگوی همبستگی بین ابعاد مختلف هم‌والدگری در مقایسه با مطالعات انجام‌شده در سایر فرهنگ‌ها مشاهده شد که می‌تواند منعکس‌کننده ویژگی‌های فرهنگی جامعه ایرانی باشد. https://cbs.ui.ac.ir/article_30569_32f485816ec549fdd47c4754d318e695.pdf