This paper proposes that remarried families who have a higher level of family ritual observance will also have a higher level of family functioning. This hypothesis was tested in a study involving 60 individuals comprising 30 couples remarried over two years, and with a stepchild under 13 years of age. Each partner responded to a questionnaire composed of family functioning measures (FACES Ill-Adaptability and Cohesion subscales, Family Satisfaction Scale, Quality Marriage Index) family ritual measures (Family Traditions Index, Family Celebrations Scale, Family Time and Routines Index), and demographic information. Data was examined using Correlation, Analysis of Variance, and Regression analysis. Results indicate that women experiencing a higher level of family routines also experience greater family satisfaction. Additionally, women who had counselling in the remarried family, report greater marital quality, and women who work outside the home report a higher level of adaptability. For men, a higher level of cohesion and family celebrations were found for men where the remarried family includes a child from the current marriage. These results suggest that awareness of family rituals present in remarried families and the effect of particular demographic variables can be useful information for both family therapists and the families themselves. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Using a cross-sectional survey research design the present study aims to explore those resilience factors which enable remarried families to withstand and rebound from the disruptive challenges they face. Furthermore, recovery factors were examined which enabled remarried families to cope more effectively and to emerge har-dier___fr_om a crisis. Remarried families who were married between one to four years, with at least one family member presently in school, were approached to take part in this study. A parent and a child from 38 families independently completed six questionnaires and an open-ended question. It is proposed that the most important resilience factors identified in this study, through qualitative and quantitative measures, include (1) family relationships and support (mutual respect, cooperation and a loving bond), (2) family communication that is affirming, conveying care and support, as well as less incendiary communication that tends to exacerbate a stressful situation, (3) the ability to have a sense of control over outcomes in life by having a active orientation in adjusting to and managing stressful situations, (4) activities and routines that helps the family in spending time together and creating togetherness, (5) a strong marriage relationship (consisting of clearly defined roles, equality and support for each other), (6) support from family and friends, (7) internal and external handling of problems by redefining stressful events and acquiring and accepting social support, (8) spirituality and religion within the family that provides meaning and purpose beyond a crisis situation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Dwarssnit navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om veerkragtigheidsfaktore te identifiseer wat hersaamgestelde gesinne in staat stelom weerstand te bied in ontwrigtende uitdagings wat hulle in die gesig staar. Verder is herstellingsfaktore ondersoek wat hersaamgestelde gesinne in staat stelom 'n krisis effektief te hanteer. Hersaamgestelde gesinne wat tussen een tot vier jaar getroud is, met ten minste een gesinslid op skool, is genader om aan die studie deel te neem. 'n Ouer en 'n kind van 38 gesinne het onafhanklik ses vraelyste en 'n oop-end vraag beantwoord. Die volgende veerkragtigheidsfaktore is met behulp van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metings geïdentifiseer: (1) gesinsverhoudings en ondersteuning (wedersydse respek, samewerking en 'n liefdevolle band), (2) oop gesinskommunikasie wat bevestigend is en wat sorg en ondersteuning oordra, sowel as minder opruiende kommunikasie wat geneig is om stresvolle situasies te vererger, (3) die vermoë om 'n sin van kontrole oor uitkomste in die lewe te hê deur 'n aktiewe orientasie in aanpassing tot en die beheer van stresvolle situasies, (4) aktiwiteite en roetine wat gesinne help om tyd saam te spandeer en die skep van samesyn, (5) 'n sterk huweliksverhouding (bestaande uit duidelike gedefinieerde rolle, gelykheid en ondersteuning van mekaar), (6) ondersteuning van familie en vriende, (7) interne en eksterne hantering van probleme deur die herdefiniëring van stresvolle gebeure, sowel as die verkryging en aanvaarding van sosiale ondersteuning, (8) spiritualiteit en godsdiens in die gesin wat doel en betekenis verskaf wat verder gaan as die krisissituasie.

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 ...

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...

This research journey investigated the ways in which (1) the lives of adolescents have been influenced by parental divorce and subsequent remarriage, (2) exploring the relationships participants have with biological, nonresidential fathers and (3) to collaboratively present ways of doing family in alternative. Four adolescent girls took part in group conversations where they could were empowered to have their voices heard in a society where they are usually marginalized and silenced. As a result of these conversations a family game, FunFam, was developed that aimed to assist families in expanding communication within the family. Normalizing prescriptive discourses about divorce and remarriage were deconstructed to offer participants the opportunity to re-author their stories about their families. The second part of the research journey explored the problem-saturated stories that these four participants had with their biological, nonresidential fathers. They deconstructed the discourses that influenced this relationship and redefined the relationship to suit their expectations and wishes. / Practical Theology / M.Th.

This research journey investigated the ways in which (1) the lives of adolescents have been influenced by parental divorce and subsequent remarriage, (2) exploring the relationships participants have with biological, nonresidential fathers and (3) to collaboratively present ways of doing family in alternative. Four adolescent girls took part in group conversations where they could were empowered to have their voices heard in a society where they are usually marginalized and silenced. As a result of these conversations a family game, FunFam, was developed that aimed to assist families in expanding communication within the family. Normalizing prescriptive discourses about divorce and remarriage were deconstructed to offer participants the opportunity to re-author their stories about their families. The second part of the research journey explored the problem-saturated stories that these four participants had with their biological, nonresidential fathers. They deconstructed the discourses that influenced this relationship and redefined the relationship to suit their expectations and wishes. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.