Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-87).

This study developed a balance theory analysis of stepfamily relationships in order to understand family adjustment and empirically tested hypotheses derived from that analysis. Sentiment and unit relations between the stepparent, natural parent, and adolescent child, and between these stepfamily members and the nonresident (absent) natural parent were included in the analysis. The assumption of balance theory is that sentiment (affective) relations and unit relations (the perception of belonging together) tend toward a balanced state. If a balanced state does not exist, the imbalance will produce tension. The general hypothesis tested was that the degree of balance of the stepfamily system of relations is associated with stepfamily adjustment indicated by family members' feelings about satisfaction with family life, acceptance by other family members, expected permanence of the family, and self-esteem. Balance indices were calculated based on sentiment relations alone and on unit and sentiment relations together. Thirty-seven newly formed stepfamilies with a resident adolescent child provided the data for the study. Questionnaire data were obtained from the natural parent, the stepparent, and the child in regard to intrafamily communications, extrafamily relationships with the absent natural parent, and the adjustment variables. The results supported the hypothesis of an association between balance and family members' feelings indicative of stepfamily adjustment. For the child, the association between balance and feelings indicative of stepfamily adjustment was stronger when unit relations were included in the calculation of system balance than when balance was based on sentiment relations alone. For adults, the balance calculation based on sentiment relations alone produced the stronger associations with family adjustment. Self-esteem was not associated with family system balance. It was associated with the number of positive dyadic sentiment relations in the family system to which a member was a party. Implications of the results are: (1) Balance theory appears to be a fruitful theoretical approach to understanding stepfamily adjustment; and (2) A positive relationship between the child and the nonresident (absent) natural parent may make the child's adjustment in the stepfamily more difficult.

Thesis (M.A.) - Concordia University, St. Paul, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67)

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / This study examined the attitudes displayed qy a group of stepmothers seen at a child guidance clinic toward a stepchild, his problem, and her own participation in help toward the solution of the problem. In addition it examined attitudes and relationships common to the status of stepmotherhood.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boise State University, 2010. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-70).

Thesis (M.A.)--Boise State University, 2010. / Title from t.p. of PDF file (viewed July 13, 2010). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-70).

No description available.

Research on stepfamily life in the 21st century reveals unexplored variables at every turn. This is important because around half of American adults report close step-relationships and the challenges and demographic and relational differences for different types of stepfamilies remains unexplored. The first of these studies explored data for 879 husbands and wives couples to explore how positivity, negativity, and sexual interest levels differ depending which of the couple, both partners, or neither had previous children. Wives reported higher levels of marital instability and positivity than husbands. Marital instability was linked with one’s own and one’s partners’ negativity, and inversely related to one’s own and one’s partners’ positivity and sexual interest. The marital instability of those with children was related with their partner’s negativity. The second study investigated how the marital stability of different stepfamily configurations is related to difficulties associated with the social and family dimension, the role of the spouse, the role of a parent, and the role of a stepparent. Wives’ scores of marital instability and difficulties being a parent and stepparent were higher than husbands’ across remarriage types. Stepmothers reported the highest levels of parenting and stepparenting strain, especially stepmothers without children of their own. This implies stepfamily challenges can impact family-related stress and marital instability, with the most profound effects found for stepmothers with no biological children of their own. We found that parents with children seem to be sensitive to negativity and sexual interest from their partners as a measure of relationship functioning. Stepmothers experienced higher levels of marital instability and difficulties associated with being a parent and a stepparent and this is especially true for stepmothers who did not have children of their own. These findings suggest couples may benefit from strategies that decrease negativity, increase positivity and sexual interest, and help manage the stresses associated with being a parent and stepparent, especially for stepmothers

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-299).

M.Cur.