Thesis--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-65).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-154).

Remarried families are no longer the exception in society. Statistics reveal that this type of family structure is increasing. The need for family resilience research in varying family forms has been highlighted. Given the distinctive structure of the remarried family, there are specific dilemmas and challenges that need to be resolved on the journey towards family integration. Despite these challenges, many families benefit from their new family structure and show marked resiliency and ability to adapt. South African family resilience research is scarce. This study aimed to identify, explore and describe the resiliency factors that enable families to adjust and adapt as a result of being a stepfamily. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 2001) was used to conceptualize level of adaptation. Participants consisted of both adults and adolescents, in order to gain perspectives of adapting to a remarried family from differing individual family members’ stages of development. Participants consisted of 19 parents and 16 adolescents, equaling a total of 35 participants. Triangulation was employed, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. A biographical questionnaire with an open-ended question, in conjunction with a number of structured questionnaires were used to gather the data. These questionnaires were: The Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Family Time and Routine Index (FTRI), the Social Support Index (SSI), the Family Problem-Solving Communication (FPSC) Index, the Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Relative and Friend Support Index (RFS), and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8 (FACI8). In this study the FACI8 was used as a measure to determine the level of family adaptation. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the biographical information. Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyze the quantitative data, and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The results of the quantitative component of the study indicated that there were three significant positive correlations with the FACI8 for both adults and adolescents. These variables were family hardiness (measured by the FHI), family problem solving communication (measured by the FPSC), and family time together and routines (measured by the FTRI). The Social Support subscale of the F-COPES showed a positive correlation with the FACI8 for the adults. The results of the qualitative component of the study revealed that various common themes emerged between the adult and adolescent participants’ responses. These common themes were spirituality; boundaries; respect, love, understanding, compassion and acceptance; communication; flexibility and tolerance; time together, bonding, and routines; and social support. There were four remaining themes that the adults identified as important factors helping them manage being part of a stepfamily. These four remaining themes were equality; forgiveness and acceptance of the past; commitment and being positive; and financial support. The value of the research was discussed. Finally, limitations of the study were discussed, and suggestions were made for future research involving remarried families.

M.Ed. / The reconstructed family is not a new phenomenon. In the past it occurred when a spouse died but nowadays it can be largely be attributed to divorce or the marriage of an unwedded mother. The result is that more children grow up in reconstructed families. Hardly any research has been done and little information is available about the child's involvement in such a family ...

Families of remarriage constitute a growing number of American families. The spiraling divorce rate of the 1970s was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the number of remarriages. Forty percent of American families today contain at least one spouse that has been previously married, thus studying relationships within families of remarriage is crucial to understanding the experiences of both children and adults in American families. This study uses a life-span perspective to examine the qualitative accounts of 62 women 43 of whom divorced, spent some time as a single parent of at least one child, and remarried and 19 of whom had divorced and did not remarry. Some of those women also had a remarriage end in divorce. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques were used to both explore relationships within families of remarriage, and differences between those women that remarried and those who remained single parents. Quantitative analyses revealed that women who did not remarry were better educated and had more conflict with their former spouse over time. Women who were younger when they became a single parent for the first time, had more children, had jobs rather than careers, and had less education reported more marriages overall. Qualitative analyses showed that particular problem areas in families of remarriage centered around the adjustment period between the children and the new partner, finances, and communication. Remarriages that failed were characterized by problematic relationships between children and their mother's partner. As this was predominantly a white, middle-class sample, generalizations to other populations should be made with caution. Directions for future research are discussed. / Graduation date: 1994

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1993. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-160).

M.A. (Psychology) / Although the reconstituted family is an ever-increasing phenomenon in society today, there is a shortage of literature and research studies on the subject. It is, therefore, the aim of this study to obtain more information regarding the functioning of this type of family structure. The major part of this study consists of a theoretical literature survey of the functioning of the reconstituted family measured against the healthy and optimal functioning of the traditional nuclear family. The following aspects of healthy functioning in the reconstituted family were reviewed: cohesion, communication, commitment, adaptation, establishment of boundaries, the power structure, the extent of autonomy, acceptance of separation and loss, the perception of reality, and affect. The phases of family development in the reconstituted family were also discussed because of their importance in the evaluation of family functioning. In addition, research literature was used to emphasize the complexity of the reconstituted family's functioning in relation to aspects such as boundaries and family integration. There is, however, a definite gap in research on systemic aspects such as communication and cohesion which relate to positive and optimal functioning in the reconstituted family.

M. Ed. (Educational Psychology) / In the author's daily handling of clients at the Institute for Child and Adult Guidance at the Rand Afrikaans University she came to the startling realization of just how many children are' either going through or have already gone through the trauma of their parents' divorce and the reconstitution of the family unit after their parent's remarriage. The author believes that there are unique problems facing today's child in the reconstituted family; so unique in fact, that it may be viable to develop a parental guidance program specifically for the reconstituted family. To ascertain whether a parental guidance program specifically for the reconstituted family is really necessary and desirable, an attempt is made to provide positive and qualitative answers to questions such as: Do normal families really differ from reconstituted families? If so, how and to what extent? Are there major differences in the typical problems facing the parents of the two types of family? Are there major differences between the two family types in "the way children perceive their parents?' The author, therefore, endeavors to identify problem areas in the reconstituted family by first of all studying available literature in an attempt to define a normal family; a reconstituted family; the functioning of a normal family; relationships in the reconstituted family and possible problems that may surface. In an empirical study three practical case studies handled at the Institute of Child and Adult Guidance are studied and an attempt is made to isolate those problems that are unique to' the reconstituted family...

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1993. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-160).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Seminary, 2006. / Includes abstract and vita. "November 2006" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-155)