Healthy Stepfamily Functioning

Abstract

Stepfamilies are the fastest growing family form in the country. Although clinicians note the need for different family patterns for stepfamilies, those differences have not been identified and empirically tested. The predominance of literature on the subject has been problem focused: Research has often been based on families in treatment or has assessed differences in stepfamilies as problematic. In this exploratory research, well–functioning stepfamilies were interviewed in their homes, themes common to and different from biologically based families were noted, and differences from families in treatment were assessed. A further purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of standardized family-functioning measures on this population.

Turning Points in the Development of Blended Families

“…Blended families were regarded by family members as structurally fluid, with ongoing changes in household composition experienced when children visited the nonresident parent and moved in with (and moved out of) the blended family household. This fact, coupled with the complex configuration of blended family membership and households, represents a continual challenge to the development of these families and to the relationships between family members as they seek to adjust to blended family life (e.g., Duberman, 1975;Esses & Campbell, 1984;Fine, 1986;Ganong & Coleman, 1986, 1994Kelley, 1992;Whisett & Land, 1992).…”

Designing effective behavioral family interventions for stepfamilies

“…Maintaining meaningful relationships between child and extended family has been identified by remarried parents as important for their child's well-being (Kelley, 1992). In addition, amicable coparenting relationships can lessen the burden on parents by providing them with time alone away from children (Visher & Visher, 1989).…”

Do Stepparents Experience More Parental Antagonism Than Biological Parents? A Test of Evolutionary and Socialization Perspectives

“…In addition, higher family functioning might be achieved in families where the biological parent recognizes that stepparents generally do not experience the same level of emotional attachment to their children as they do. This might be particularly important in families including a biological father and a stepmother, where women generally do the majority of household tasks (Ishii-Kuntz & Coltrane, 1992) and past findings suggest that "higher functioning" stepfamilies have more equitable chore division (Kelley, 1992). Furthermore, an increased understanding by biological parents of stepparents' feelings and the challenges of their role could also help reduce the negative emotions experienced by stepparents and therefore the negative outcomes for stepchildren.…”