Couple Strengths and Stressors in Complex and Simple Stepfamilies in Australia

Schultz, Noel C.

doi:10.2307/352732

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The most recent study (Hobart 1991) found that although there tends to be increased conflict for remarrieds compared to first marrieds due to different ideas of childrearing and finances, disagreements per se did not cause less adjustment and happiness in remarriage. Schultz, Schultz, and Olson (1991) found that consensus may be moderated by whether stepfamilies were simple or complex. They found that couples in simple stepfamilies showed lower disagreement than complex stepfamilies on 10 dimensions, including communication, conflict resolution, parenting and children, and the personality of their partner.…”

Section: Couple Consensusmentioning

confidence: 94%

Premarital Predictors of Remarital Quality: Implications for Clinicians

Falke

Larson

2007

Contemp Fam Ther

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This paper presents a review of the research literature from 1980 to present on the premarital predictors of remarital satisfaction and stability (quality). The predictive factors are organized with an ecosystemic theoretical model using three general predictor categories: background and context factors (e.g., stepchildren), individual traits and behaviors (e.g., attachment to an ex-spouse), and couple interactional processes (e.g., couple consensus). Major factors related to lower remarriage quality include the roles of stepchildren, stepfamily complexity, emotional attachment to an ex-spouse, serial marriage, and economic strain. Predictors related to higher remarital quality include couple consensus on important topics, social support from family and friends, and financial stability. Implications for couple therapy before remarriage are discussed. Keywords Remarriage Á Marital quality Á Premarital predictorsDivorce rates continue to be high in the United States as nearly 50% of first marriages end in divorce and 27% of couple households in the US include at least one partner who has been previously married. The divorce rate for remarrieds is even higher-about 60% (Bramlett & Mosher, 2001), especially when remarried couples have stepchildren (Booth & Edwards, 1992). This makes it important for marriage and family therapists to understand the premarital factors that support a successful remarriage. The most recent reviews of remarriage focus more on general stepfamily dynamics rather than on the remarital dyad Stephanie Falke, M.S. is a doctoral student in marital and family therapy at

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Section: Couple Consensusmentioning

confidence: 94%

Premarital Predictors of Remarital Quality: Implications for Clinicians

Falke

Larson

2007

Contemp Fam Ther

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“…Prior research has divided stepfamilies into "simple" stepfamilies (where one individual in the marital dyad has no biological children from a prior relationship) and "complex" stepfamilies (where both individuals in the dyad have biological children from prior relationships; Schultz, Schultz, & Olson, 1991). Complex stepfamilies should report more stress than simple stepfamilies (Pasley & Ihinger-Tallman, 1984).…”

Section: The Stepmother's Biological Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

A model for predicting stress levels and marital satisfaction for stepmothers utilizing a stress and coping approach

Johnson

Wright

Craig

et al. 2008

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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Drawing from a stress and coping framework and previous research regarding stepfamilies, the researchers develop and test a theoretical model predicting stepmother stress and marital satisfaction. Factors in the model include residency of the stepmother's stepchildren, whether the stepmother has biological children, social support resources, role clarity, and responsibility for household chores and stepchild care. The results indicate that the data fit the model well. By examining all of these variables in a model several advantages are achieved, including integrating and extending prior research findings on stepfamilies, comparing the relative strengths of these variables in their relationship with stress and satisfaction, and illustrating factors that can be targeted to encourage the viability of the various types of stepmother—father couples.

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“…However, Guisinger, Cowan, and Schuldberg (1989) reported that over time, stepmothers become less optimistic about their roles, and their marital satisfaction decreases due to a worsening stepparent-stepchild relationship. According to a study on types of stepfamilies and marital satisfaction (Schultz, Schultz, & Olson, 1991), stepfamilies with stepchildren from both parents' previous marriages experience less marital satisfaction than do those with a stepchild or stepchildren from only one parent's prior marriage. Earlier studies that examined the correlation between the presence of a mutual child of a remarried couple and their level of marital satisfaction found that conflict did exist in the household.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploratory Study on the Factors Affecting Marital Satisfaction among Remarried Korean Couples

Kim

2010

Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Service

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This study examined 157 remarried couples with middle or high school children to identify factors affecting marital satisfaction. Sociodemographic factors such as sex, family income, type of remarried family, and presence of a biological child of the remarried couple were identified as independent variables associated with remarried couples’ marital satisfaction. The results of an analysis of the effects of all factors on marital satisfaction indicated that role ambiguity was found to be the most significant factor explaining the level of remarried couples’ marital satisfaction, followed by role conflict, conjugal communication, family boundary ambiguity, family support, and type of remarriage in descending order of statistical significance. Concluding practical recommendations for social work are made based on these results.

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Couple Strengths and Stressors in Complex and Simple Stepfamilies in Australia

Cited by 17 publications

References 22 publications

Premarital Predictors of Remarital Quality: Implications for Clinicians

Premarital Predictors of Remarital Quality: Implications for Clinicians

A model for predicting stress levels and marital satisfaction for stepmothers utilizing a stress and coping approach

Exploratory Study on the Factors Affecting Marital Satisfaction among Remarried Korean Couples

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