African American Stepfather–Stepchild Relationships, Marital Quality, and Mental Health

Abstract

This study examined associations between stepfather-stepchild relationship quality, stepfathers’ depressive symptoms, and two aspects of marriage: marital quality and positive marital interactions. Marital quality was assessed in terms of commitment, trust, passionate and friendship-based love, and happiness. Marital interactions were assessed in terms of intimacy, shared activities, and verbal communication. Using data collected from 149 recently married African American stepfathers, structural equation modeling revealed that when stepfathers reported more positive relationships with their stepchildren, they also reported more positive marital quality and a higher frequency of positive marital interactions (relationship solidifying activities), and that, in turn, was associated with stepfathers experiencing fewer depressive symptoms.

Stepfathers’ affinity-seeking with stepchildren, stepfather-stepchild relationship quality, marital quality, and stepfamily cohesion among stepfathers and mothers.

“…Both family systems theory and evolutionary theory suggest that stepparents’ affinity-seeking behaviors are related to the quality and functioning of other stepfamily dyads, such as couple relationships. In family systems theory, subsystems are interconnected and mutually affect each other (Bryant, Futris, Hicks, Lee, & Oshri, 2016). In stepfamilies, given the potential stress and strains of stepparent-stepchild relationships, dimensions of these subsystems may be expected to influence couple satisfaction and quality (e.g., Adler-Baeder, Robertson, & Schramm, 2010; Bryant et al, 2016; Crosbie-Burnett, 1984).…”

“…In family systems theory, subsystems are interconnected and mutually affect each other (Bryant, Futris, Hicks, Lee, & Oshri, 2016). In stepfamilies, given the potential stress and strains of stepparent-stepchild relationships, dimensions of these subsystems may be expected to influence couple satisfaction and quality (e.g., Adler-Baeder, Robertson, & Schramm, 2010; Bryant et al, 2016; Crosbie-Burnett, 1984). Although effects between subsystems are bidirectional in family systems theory, in stepfamily research, most researchers have postulated that the stepparent-stepchild relationship is more central than the marital/couple bond, and research models typically examine stepparent-stepchild relationship influences (e.g., Bryant et al, 2016).…”

“…In stepfamilies, given the potential stress and strains of stepparent-stepchild relationships, dimensions of these subsystems may be expected to influence couple satisfaction and quality (e.g., Adler-Baeder, Robertson, & Schramm, 2010; Bryant et al, 2016; Crosbie-Burnett, 1984). Although effects between subsystems are bidirectional in family systems theory, in stepfamily research, most researchers have postulated that the stepparent-stepchild relationship is more central than the marital/couple bond, and research models typically examine stepparent-stepchild relationship influences (e.g., Bryant et al, 2016). The stepparent-stepchild bond is involuntary, unlike the adult couple bond, and the involuntary nature of the step-dyad is thought to be related to relational quality that varies widely, which in turn affects marital quality.…”

Parental relationship stability and parent–adult child relationships in stepfamilies: A test of alternative models.

“…However, this may differ by gender of the stepparent. Recent research including stepfamilies with young children and adolescents shows that higher marital quality is associated with closer and more positive stepfather–child relationships (Bryant, Futris, Hicks, Lee, & Oshri, 2016; King, 2006). King and Lindstrom (2016) similarly found that young adults were more likely to report becoming close with their stepfathers when their mothers reported higher quality relationships with the stepfathers.…”

“…To the extent that ongoing involvement with adult children is important to parents, stepcouple relationship stability may be enhanced when parents and stepparents are positively involved with their adult children. However, the direction of association between stepcouple stability and parent–adult child relationships is unclear (Bryant et al, 2016), and these links have not been examined for stepmother families with adult children.…”