Twenty Major Issues in Remarriage Families

Abstract

Twenty major issues in remarriage families are identified from the professional literature and are placed in four categories: initial family issues, developing family issues, feelings about self and others, and adult issues. Each issue is discussed using citations from the primary sources. Many suggestions for counselor assessment and intervention are offered.

The Effects of Several of the Most Common Family Structures on the Academic Achievement of Eighth Graders

“…Social scientists from this perspective assert that the presence of a caregiver that is not the child's natural parent is a source of stress for most children (Anderson & Rice, 1992;Hetherington & Clingempeel, 1992;Walsh, 1992;Zill & Nord, 1994). Many children demonstrate reluctance to accept a new parental figure (Kelly, 1992;Visher & Visher, 1988).…”

Does Divorce or Remarriage Have the Greater Negative Impact on the Academic Achievement of Children?

“…Given these tendencies, it is not surprising that Duberman's (1975) often cited study, on the reconstituted family, found that remarried parents rate "childrearing" as the number one problem of living in a reconstituted family. There may exist some moderating influences on the challenges that stepchildren face such as the 82 JOURNAL OF DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE age of the child, the length of time that the child has lived in a reconstituted home, and the extent of the communication between the stepchild and the stepparent (Anderson, Linder, and Bennion, 1992;Walsh, 1992;White, 1994).…”

“…Children in reconstituted families often struggle with rivalries with their stepbrothers and stepsisters, as w e l l a s jealous feelings toward their new stepparent (Anderson and Rice, 1992). Stepchildren often feel that the stepparent monopolizes the time and energy of the natural parent (Kelly, 1992;Walsh, 1992;Amato, 1987). The presence of a stepparent often reduces the closeness of the relationship that the children have with the biological parent (Hetherington, 1994;Walsh, 1992).…”

“…The presence of a stepparent often reduces the closeness of the relationship that the children have with the biological parent (Hetherington, 1994;Walsh, 1992). In addition, children often suffer because remarriage often produces an increased tension between the biological parents (Walsh, 1992).…”

Does Parental Involvement Eliminate the Effects of Parental Divorce on the Academic Achievement of Adolescents?

“…The second school of thought is the non-parental adjustment school of thought. Social Scientists from this perspective assert that the presence of a caregiver that is not the child's natural parent is a source of stress for most children (Anderson & Rice, 1992;Hetherington & Clingempeel, 1992;Walsh, 1992;Zill & Nord, 1994).…”