Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 2001. / A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1983. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-131).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

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.

The problem of this study is to investigate child rearing attitudes of stepparents and natural parents and differences in perceived parental behavior patterns within reconstituted and intact families.

No description available.

No description available.

This study examined participants' expectations for parental and stepparental responsibilities with respect to child care. Seventy-nine female and seventy-five male participants completed the Parenting Expectations Questionnaire. Participants read a brief scenario about a first married family; a stepmother/biological father family; or a stepfather/biological mother family. They then assigned responsibility for 38 child care tasks on a 5-point scale from "man always" to "woman always". The general findings were: 1) participants assigned less responsibility to stepparents (stepmothers and stepfathers) for child care than they assigned to biological parents; 2) there was less consensus about appropriate "parental" behaviour for stepparents as compared to that for first married parents; and 3) participants with stepfamily experience assigned less responsibility to stepparents than did participants from first married families. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Forty-five stepparents responded to four scales: Perceived Social Support Friend Scale, Perceived Social Support Family Scale, Kansas Family Life Satisfaction Scale and the Kansas Parental Satisfaction Scale. The study found a significant positive correlation between family and friend support and stepparents' role fulfillment.