Family Diversity: Stepfamilies

Stepfamily definition

Reunion of 2 adults where at least one partner has a child from a previous relationships

Are men or women more likely to remarry?

Men

What percent of the American population is now a step-family

1/3

How many Americans will be a part of step families at some point

More than half

Stepfamilies outnumber

first marriage families

Fraction of men that remarry folloing divroce

3 out of 4 men

Statistic of women that remarry following divorce

2 out of 3 women

What percentage of children live with their step father?

65%

Step families are more what in structure

Matriarchal

What race and location is more likely to remarry

Whites (80%) and southern people

Simple stepfamily

adult (Mother) who is a parent and had children of the previous relationship, no other children in the new union

Complex stepfamiles

Two adults who are parents regardless of where the children live, The new couple become parents together with a shared child

Family systems theory

Views the family as a complex system of interconnected parts and subsystems, where each member has a role

Residential family members

parent, step parent, children, and shard children

Nonresidential family members

Non custodial parent, siblings, step siblings, former aunts/uncles

Remarried Couple (step couple co-parenting subsystem)

Central Dyad- Mom

Marital Satisfaction-Equal to first-married couples ONLY if measured several years after stepfamily formation

Communication- Less positive & less negative communication, more withdrawal

Autonomy- Better finances (2nd) and less disagreement of childrearing (1st)

Physical and emotional well-being- improvement, particularly for men

Less marital stability

Subsystem: Stepparent and Stepchildren

Disagreements of stepparents’ role

poor adjustment

Loyalty to the biological parent

Stepparent is the outsider, threat to the family

Residential parents and his/her children

Dating processes

Opportunities for conflict

Nonresidential parent and his/her family

Binuclear family

Non residential children

Sibling subsystem

Shared children (mothers children, fathers children)

Blood (Full or half)- engaged & supportive, rivalrous and conflictual

Conflict in stepfamilies

merging of different family cultures

split loyalties/loyalty binds or conflicts to previous family members

Cohesiveness

the quality of forming a united whole

Stress in step family

Differing rules resource distribution

Adjustment process

Family Boundaries

Role ambiguity

Parental responibliities

Compared to first marriage families children might struggle with

Psychological functions

behavioral problems

cognitive functioning

social functioning

Compared to single parent families

Emotional outcomes

Behavioral outcomes

Health

Parenting risk factors

Ineffective parenting

poor psychological functioning of Residential parent

loss of contact with the nonresidential parent

Coparental conflict

Protective factors

Positive parent-child relationship

Effective parenting

Psychological adjustment of custodial parent

Low levels of parental conflict

Economic resources

Child characteristics

Succesful stepfamiles

Realistic and positive expectations

Development of stepparent-child relationships

Bonding and relationship-building

Parents’ sensitivity to children’s needs

Let children mourn losses

The role of a new spouse is to support

Stepfamilies develop their own new rituals

Flexibility and clear roles and boundaries

Realistic expectations

Love may or may not develop later, respect and acceptance are more important

Differences in backgrounds are part of daily life

New family will be neither better nor worse- just different

All stepfamilies will have their own difficulties

Children may be unwilling to accept authority from stepparents

Step family intervention

Normalize the experience

Provide information about the adjustment process

Openly discuss expectation

Teach communication and conflict resolution skills

Develop rituals, engage in shared activities