Research on Stepfamilies

Abstract

This paper identifies and elaborates the unique conditions that differentiate stepfamilies from first families and evaluates and critiques the theory and methods used to study stepfamilies. The paper begins with a summary of past and current demographic trends, followed by a discussion of children and their custodial arrangements, the factor that most profoundly distinguishes a stepfamily from a first family. Next, the difficulties associated with stepmother, stepfather, and stepchild positions are reviewed. Certain processes (e.g. commitment, cohesion, communication) are important for the formation and stable maintenance of all family groups. One of these processes, boundary maintenance, is used to illustrate the unique experiences of stepfamilies. The stepfamily as a high risk setting is next discussed. Suggestions that are offered in the literature to explain stepmember vulnerability to abuse are summarized. The paper concludes with a discussion of theory and methods and the progress, problems, and promising directions of this research topic.

Turning Points in the Development of Blended Families

“…Overwhelmingly, to our respondents, conflict was perceived as negative in its effects on feeling like a family. The frequency with which the stepparents and stepchildren were reported to engage in conflict also supports much of the research in which this relational subsystem is found to be a difficult one (e.g., Cissna et al, 1990;Ihinger-Tallman, 1988). Along with conflict between stepparents and stepchildren, our data show that the marital couple was perceived to be involved in substantial conflict, as well, which is consistent with existing research in which the marital couple has been found subject to substantial tension and stress (for a review, see Ganong & Coleman, 1994).…”

“…Only limited work has taken the blended family on its own terms (e.g., Cissna, Cox, & Bochner, 1990). Fur-thermore, research on the blended family provides only limited insight into matters of process (Ganong & Coleman, 1994;Ihinger-Tallman, 1988). The current study considers blended families on their own terms, examining the major turning points that are retrospectively viewed by blended family members as important in the early development of their respective families and the basic developmental trajectories in which these turning points are embedded.…”

Perceived self-competence, stepfamily myths, and (step)parent role ambiguity in adolescents from stepfather and stepmother families.

“…Both researchers and clinicians have suggested that residential stepmothers may have more difficult and ambiguous roles than residential stepfathers because of negative stereotyping of stepmothers ( Ganong, Coleman, & Mapes, 1990) and because of the lack of socially accepted norms for stepmother behavior ( Fine & Schwebel, 1992;Ihinger-Tallman, 1988). Some speculated that the more difficult and ambiguous role of the stepmother relative to the stepfather may lead to greater adjustment difficulties in children from stepmother families than those from stepfather families ( Hetherington, Stanley-Hagan, & Anderson, 1989;Visher & Visher, 1988).…”

Insiders and outsiders in stepfamilies: Adults’ and children’s views on family boundaries

“…It focuses on exclusiveness and inclusiveness as practices by which individuals differentiate between those considered insiders and outsiders in the family. The prevalence of separation and re-partnering in contemporary societies has contributed to the loosening of household-based family boundaries when, for example, a child's parental relationships include two households (Ihinger-Tallman, 1988). Loose boundaries enhance children's agency in defining their significant family (e.g.…”