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Objective: Using actor–partner interdependence modeling, this study examined the dyadic associations of marital satisfaction and harsh discipline and the mediating role of self‐compassion. Background: Harsh discipline is a negative parenting style commonly used by parents, especially Chinese parents. This parenting approach has been reported by some researchers as harmful and universal. It is important to identify the causes and internal mechanisms supporting use of harsh discipline. Method: Participants were 349 Chinese father–mother dyads with school‐age children (Mage of father = 35.4 years, SDage = 5.4 years; Mage of mother = 34.4 years, SDage = 4.9 years). Father and mother self‐reported their marital satisfaction, self‐compassion, and use of harsh discipline at three time points. Results: The results revealed that fathers' and mothers' marital satisfaction negatively predicted the fathers' and mothers' harsh discipline, respectively. However, fathers' and mothers' marital satisfaction did not significantly predict the mothers' and fathers' harsh discipline. Second, we also found that mothers' marital satisfaction positively predicted fathers' and mothers' self‐compassion, while fathers' marital satisfaction did not significantly predict the fathers' and mothers' self‐compassion. Finally, fathers' self‐compassion played a mediating role in the relationship between mothers' marital satisfaction and fathers' harsh discipline. Conclusion: Parents' marital satisfaction promotes the development of self‐compassion and reduces the use of harsh discipline. Implications: Enhancing parents' marital satisfaction may play a role in reducing parents' use of harsh discipline. The researchers highlight the importance of mothers' marital satisfaction in improving mothers' and fathers' self‐compassion, which may be an effective measure to mitigate fathers' harsh discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant research has shown that self‐compassion robustly contributes to adults' psychological well‐being. Meanwhile, a few studies have shown that self‐compassion is rooted in early experiences with parents. However, it is unclear whether interactions with partners and children affect adults' self‐compassion, and the role of their self‐compassion in interactions with significant others. This study examined bidirectional longitudinal relationships between Chinese parents' marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and self‐compassion following a three‐wave longitudinal design. A sample of 322 Chinese father–mother dyads (father's Mage = 35.84, SDage = 5.76; mother's Mage = 34.32, SDage = 5.46) completed a set of questionnaires at three time points. The results showed that marital satisfaction positively predicted the fathers' and mothers' self‐compassion, while parenting stress did not significantly predict the parents' self‐compassion; In contrast, parents' self‐compassion did not significantly predict marital satisfaction or parenting stress. Additionally, there was a bidirectional relationship between marital satisfaction and parenting stress in fathers and mothers. Finally, mothers' marital satisfaction positively mediated the relationship between parenting stress and self‐compassion/next‐stage parenting stress. This study revealed that adults' self‐compassion can develop from caring and supportive relationships, including marital relationships. Highlighting key mechanisms of marital satisfaction, such as increasing self‐compassion and reducing parenting stress, may contribute to the improvement of adults' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have shown that co-parenting plays an important role in marital and parent-child interactions. However, little is known about the bidirectional associations between positive co-parenting and marital and parent-child factors, as well as the dynamic underlying mechanisms. This study used cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) to explore the bidirectional longitudinal relationship between positive co-parenting, marital satisfaction, and parental involvement among Chinese parents from a positive family multiple systems perspective. A sample of 668 father-mother dyads (father's M age = 36.47, SD age = 5.34; mother's M age = 35.45, SD age = 5.07) completed a series of questionnaires at three time points (approximately spaced 1 year between each time point). The results showed that positive co-parenting positively predicted marital satisfaction and parental involvement and that marital satisfaction positively influenced parents' positive co-parenting, whereas the effect of parental involvement on positive co-parenting was significant among fathers. Additionally, fathers' marital satisfaction can affect their involvement, but this effect is negligible among mothers. Finally, parental marital satisfaction mediated the relationship between positive co-parenting and the next stage of positive co-parenting. This study provided new ideas and interventions to strengthen family cohesion and harmony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]