Stepfamilies as Developed and Enacted in Communication

Braithwaite, Dawn O.; Schrodt, Paul; Oliver-Blackburn, Bailey M.

doi:10.4324/9781003043423-14

Cited by 2 publications

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“…Researchers most often gain a snapshot of family life at one particular point in time as data are collected, leaving an incomplete picture of family development and enactment over the years (Braithwaite et al, 2022). Papernow (2013) recommended a process view of stepfamilies, especially as most take at least 2 years to experience equilibrium and 4 years to achieve a state of stability, if this does occur.…”

Section: Discursive Co‐construction Of Stepfamily Developmental Proce...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Protector and friend: Turning points and discursive constructions of the stepparent role

et al. 2022

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Objective To understand turning points (TPs) in the development of positive stepparent–stepchild communication and relationships. Background Scholars stress the importance of communication in co‐constructing healthy stepparent–stepchild relationships. The researchers focused on positive stepparenting via understanding transformational turning point (TP) events across time. Research questions explored how stepparents with an overall positive relationship with a stepchild characterize TPs and the discursive constructions of the stepparent role. Method The team analyzed 877 pages of data from 37 in‐depth interviews with stepparents who described self‐identified TP events, reflected in visual graphs of 279 TPs. Results Data were coded into 11 TP types, focused on structural and role changes for stepparents, co‐constructed over time. The top three TP types were changes in household composition, communicating support through offering protection and being present/available, and role change, most frequently by functioning as a parent versus friend. All the TPs highlight discursive work to forge positive stepparenting roles. Conclusions The findings extend earlier studies of stepchildren's experiences and communication practices that ground resilience to manage relational resources through investments of quality time and enactment of social support. Implications Applications suggest support for stepparents to have quality interactions with stepchildren and training to develop healthy communication practices and facilitate resilience.

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Section: Discursive Co‐construction Of Stepfamily Developmental Proce...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scholars have stressed the important role of stepparent communication in the success of the entire stepfamily and especially in the stepparent–stepchild dyad (Braithwaite et al, 2022). Stepparents who adopt a warm and authoritative parenting style experience better outcomes.…”

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Protector and friend: Turning points and discursive constructions of the stepparent role

et al. 2022

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Communication and Resilience in Stepfamilies

Braithwaite,

Oliver-Blackburn

2024

Modern Relationships

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Researchers have been working to better understand how stepfamily interactions, boundaries, roles, and expectations impact these restructured family systems. The authors center attention on important ways stepfamilies communicate to foster functional and resilient relationships among stepfamily members. We frame the stepfamily experience within Buzzanell’s communication theory of resilience to feature strengths and opportunities for stepfamilies as they are constituted in and through communicative processes that enhance their abilities to create new normalcies. We consider how stepfamilies interact and co-create their new family form via Buzzanell’s five resilience processes: (a) crafting normalcy, (b) foregrounding productive action while backgrounding negative feelings, (c) affirming identity anchors, (d) maintaining and using communication networks, and (e) putting alternative logics to work. We end with conclusions on the importance of focusing on the development of positive stepfamilies and everyday talk in functional stepfamilies.

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Stepfamilies as Developed and Enacted in Communication

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Protector and friend: Turning points and discursive constructions of the stepparent role

Protector and friend: Turning points and discursive constructions of the stepparent role

Communication and Resilience in Stepfamilies

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