Parental involvement in stepfamilies: Biology, relationship type, residence, and gender

• Published in: Journal of marriage and family 2022-06, Vol.84 (3), p.773-790
• Main Authors: Arat, Ece, Poortman, Anne‐Rigt, Lippe, Tanja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biology; Child custody; childhood; Children; Children & youth; Cohabitation; Couples; Divorce; Families & family life; family structure; Fathers; Gender; Gender relations; Institutionalization; Marital separation; Marriage; Mothers; Multiple Regression Analysis; Natural parents; Nonresidents; parent involvement; Parent participation; Parent Role; Parents & parenting; Relatedness; Residence; Roles; Stepfamilies
• ISSN: 0022-2445; 1741-3737
• DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12817

Objective This study investigates the determinants of parental involvement in diverse types of stepfamilies. Background Most research has studied parental involvement in married stepfather families with resident children. This study also includes some of the more recent and emerging stepfamily types (e.g., living‐apart‐together [LAT] stepfamilies) allowing for a simultaneous examination of the role of biological relatedness, type of relationship, residence, and gender for parental involvement. It also examines whether the role of biological relatedness differs depending on parents' gender and children's residence. Method Multiple regression analyses were conducted using the New Families in the Netherlands (NFN) survey, large‐scale data collected among divorced and separated parents with minor children (2015/16; N = 3218). Results Biological parents were more involved than stepparents (i.e., a stepgap was observed). This stepgap was smallest in married stepfamilies, followed by cohabiting stepfamilies and LAT stepfamilies, respectively. (Step)parents with resident children were more involved than those with nonresident children, with involvement being higher for full‐time resident children than part‐time resident (i.e., joint physical custody) children. The stepgap was larger for resident children than nonresident children, but did not differ between mothers and fathers. Conclusion Biological relatedness, type of relationship, and where children reside are important determinants of parental involvement, whereas more nuance is required for the role of parents' gender.