A Qualitative Analysis of Stepfamilies: The Biological Parent

Twelve biological parents with one or more adolescents were interviewed about their experiences prior to and subsequent to step-family formation. Phases preceding stepfamily formation (divorce or death of spouse, single parenting, and dating) were found to influence the parent's subsequent expe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of divorce & remarriage 2000-01, Vol.33 (3-4), p.111-128
Main Authors: Arnaut, Genevieve L. Y., Fromme, Donald K., Stoll, Barre M., Felker, Jennifer A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Child development
Divorce
divorce adjustment
Families & family life
Households
Human relations
Interpersonal communication
Natural parents
Parent Child Relations
Parents
Parents & parenting
Personal experiences
Personal relationships
single parenting
Stepfamilies
Stepfamily
Stepparents
Stress
Teenagers
USA
Young people
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Twelve biological parents with one or more adolescents were interviewed about their experiences prior to and subsequent to step-family formation. Phases preceding stepfamily formation (divorce or death of spouse, single parenting, and dating) were found to influence the parent's subsequent experience. For example, parents reported feeling a great deal of loss and stress that was not alleviated in the new family as well as a decreased fear of being on their own should the stepfamily break up. After stepfamily formation, two global themes describe the experience of parents: (1) shock and disappointment due to deeply imbedded myths and expectations about normative families; and (2) divided loyalties. A model of stress in the stepfamily life cycle is applied to the results.
ISSN:1050-2556
2837-5300
1540-4811
2837-5319
DOI:10.1300/J087v33n03_07