Living in a Stepfamily

Abstract

SynopsisEducational programs of six weeks’ duration on “Living in a Stepfamily” were conducted in 1984, 1985 and 1986 with a total of fifty-eight participants. In the 1985 program, the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory (SEI) were administered before and after the program and a problem rating inventory given weekly. Additional research into the nature of problems encountered by the participants was carried out in all three programs and these problems were then divided into sub-categories according to the six main relationship patterns in stepfamilies. Data were analysed to determine the extent and severity of these problems, with differences and degree of severity being noted between male and female respondents. The major concern for males was their relationship with their non-custodial children, while for females it was their relationship with their partner’s children. The extent and the ways in which the program helped the participants were also examined, with significant improvement noted in all areas except those relating to relationships with former partners. There was also a statistically significant improvement for the combined male and female data on the DAS and SEI.

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