Thesis (D. Min.)--The King's Seminary, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar as formas de relacionamento de adolescentes e jovens de famílias recompostas de camadas populares, filhos de união anterior da mãe, com quem moravam e que se encontrava em nova união, consensual ou formalizada. Procurou-se descrever e analisar as relações vividas pelos sujeitos com a mãe, com seu parceiro, com parentes de ambos, com o pai biológico, com parentes paternos, com irmãos consangüíneos, uterinos e agnáticos, e também com filhos de uniões da madrasta e do padrasto, seus quase-irmãos. Cabe destacar que os relacionamentos com esses diversos parentes não se restringem ao espaço da moradia. Como conseqüência dessa multiplicidade de novos vínculos, muitos deles sem termo específico para definir o parentesco, objetivou-se pesquisar os estatutos atribuídos aos diferentes integrantes dessas famílias. Além disso, investigou-se como ocorreu a prática socializatória dos sujeitos, incluindo as diversas pessoas que participaram mais ativamente desse processo. Para essa pesquisa, foram entrevistados 11 adolescentes e jovens de ambos os sexos, entre 14 e 20 anos, de dez famílias recompostas. A partir das transcrições das entrevistas, foi efetuada análise qualitativa dos dados, tendo como referência trabalhos nas áreas da Antropologia e da Psicologia. A análise objetivou apreender situações em comum, bem como diferenças entre elas, vividas pelos sujeitos em suas famílias, a fim de se descrever o conjunto de seus relacionamentos de forma mais integrada. Os dados foram contrapostos à literatura da área, a fim de levantar semelhanças e divergências com ela, e foram interpretados à luz dessas ferramentas teóricas. A análise dos relatos dos sujeitos aponta a centralidade da mãe nos arranjos familiares, indicando maior proximidade com ela. Devido a essa centralidade, os parentes maternos são os mais presentes no cotidiano dos sujeitos, em detrimento dos parentes paternos e do padrasto. Como esse não tem parentesco consangüíneo com os enteados, é considerado por eles como parente menos importante. Mesmo assim, a relação que o padrasto tem com a mãe dos enteados e o convívio cotidiano com eles tende a fazer com que, em alguns casos, ele seja visto \"como um pai\", especialmente quando participou da socialização dos sujeitos durante sua infância. Por sua vez, a relação dos sujeitos com vários tipos de irmãos apresenta um estatuto mais estável e claro. Quando meio e quase-irmãos moram na mesma casa e convivem por períodos relativamente longos, tendem a ser classificados como irmãos, da mesma forma que seus irmãos biológicos. Do conjunto da análise dos dados pode-se constatar a imensa complexidade dos relacionamentos nas famílias recompostas, a tensão entre parentesco consangüíneo e aquele socialmente criado e a extensão de formas de relações geradas pelas diferentes uniões de pais e padrastos e que se espraiam para além da unidade doméstica, constituindo verdadeiras constelações familiares. / This study aimed at analyzing the forms of relationship established by teenagers and youngsters in stepfamilies with their several relatives. The subjects have been born into a previous union of their mother and were presently living with her and her new partner, either formally married or not. Hence, it was attempted to describe the relationships these subjects experienced with the mother, her present partner, and relatives of both of them; with the biological father and his relatives; with their siblings, half-siblings and stepsiblings, either children of their stepfather or stepmother. Once these relationships were not restricted to the household space, they involved a wide range of relatives, many of them without a term to define the kin ties. In order to keep track of this multiple new bounds, the identities and roles conferred to these diverse characters were also investigated. Lastly, the socialization practices of the subjects were also analyzed, also related to the people that took part in this process. For this research, 11 teenagers and youngsters of both sexes, at the age band between 14 and 20 years old, of 10 stepfamilies of low-income classes of Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil, were interviewed. The transcripts of these interviews were analyzed through the standpoint of Anthropology and Psychology. The analysis aimed at apprehending recurring themes in their speeches, as well as particularities in the subjects\' experiences of relationships with relatives. These data were compared with the literature on the issue, in order to trace similarities and divergences, and were also interpreted through these theoretical tools. The analysis on the subjects\' reports pointed towards the centrality of the mother in the family life and indicated that they presented greater intimacy with her. Due to this centrality, the maternal relatives were also more present in the everyday life of the subjects, if compared to the paternal or the stepfather\'s ones. Because the latter does not bear blood ties with his stepchildren, he is prone to be considered a less important relative by them. However, despite this evaluation, due to the relation the stepfather had with the subjects\' mother and to their everyday living together, he may eventually be considered to be \"just like a father\", especially if he has participated in the socialization of the subjects. Related to their several siblings (blood, half and step ones), the subjects tended to confer a more steady and clear role to them. When half and stepsiblings lived in the same house for relatively long periods of time, they tended to consider each other as brothers and sisters, the same way as among blood siblings. From the set of the data analysis, it was possible to perceive the great complexity of relationships among stepfamilies, the tension between blood kinship and the socially established one, and the extension of family relations beyond the household limits due to the different unions established by parents and stepparents, which end up constituting the so-called family constellations.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of responsibility inferences on judgments about helping older parents and stepparents with activities of daily living, health management, and recovery in the aftermath of an illness or injury. Using Weiner’s theory of responsibility inferences as a guiding framework, we evaluated (1) the amount of intergenerational aid adult (step)children should provide, (2) the extent to which adult (step)children were perceived to be obligated to help, (3) the extent to which government agencies should assist, and (4) attitudes about older adults’ responsibilities to help themselves. A sample of 252 adults was obtained using the Qualtrics online survey platform. Hypotheses derived from Weiner’s theory received support regarding responsibility inferences and perceptions about public assistance and personal responsibility to resolve problems. The theory was only partially supported, however, when examining intergenerational help to older kin, being at fault reduced expectations for providing help only under some conditions, and perceived obligations to kin were never affected by culpability.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar as formas de relacionamento de adolescentes e jovens de famílias recompostas de camadas populares, filhos de união anterior da mãe, com quem moravam e que se encontrava em nova união, consensual ou formalizada. Procurou-se descrever e analisar as relações vividas pelos sujeitos com a mãe, com seu parceiro, com parentes de ambos, com o pai biológico, com parentes paternos, com irmãos consangüíneos, uterinos e agnáticos, e também com filhos de uniões da madrasta e do padrasto, seus quase-irmãos. Cabe destacar que os relacionamentos com esses diversos parentes não se restringem ao espaço da moradia. Como conseqüência dessa multiplicidade de novos vínculos, muitos deles sem termo específico para definir o parentesco, objetivou-se pesquisar os estatutos atribuídos aos diferentes integrantes dessas famílias. Além disso, investigou-se como ocorreu a prática socializatória dos sujeitos, incluindo as diversas pessoas que participaram mais ativamente desse processo. Para essa pesquisa, foram entrevistados 11 adolescentes e jovens de ambos os sexos, entre 14 e 20 anos, de dez famílias recompostas. A partir das transcrições das entrevistas, foi efetuada análise qualitativa dos dados, tendo como referência trabalhos nas áreas da Antropologia e da Psicologia. A análise objetivou apreender situações em comum, bem como diferenças entre elas, vividas pelos sujeitos em suas famílias, a fim de se descrever o conjunto de seus relacionamentos de forma mais integrada. Os dados foram contrapostos à literatura da área, a fim de levantar semelhanças e divergências com ela, e foram interpretados à luz dessas ferramentas teóricas. A análise dos relatos dos sujeitos aponta a centralidade da mãe nos arranjos familiares, indicando maior proximidade com ela. Devido a essa centralidade, os parentes maternos são os mais presentes no cotidiano dos sujeitos, em detrimento dos parentes paternos e do padrasto. Como esse não tem parentesco consangüíneo com os enteados, é considerado por eles como parente menos importante. Mesmo assim, a relação que o padrasto tem com a mãe dos enteados e o convívio cotidiano com eles tende a fazer com que, em alguns casos, ele seja visto \"como um pai\", especialmente quando participou da socialização dos sujeitos durante sua infância. Por sua vez, a relação dos sujeitos com vários tipos de irmãos apresenta um estatuto mais estável e claro. Quando meio e quase-irmãos moram na mesma casa e convivem por períodos relativamente longos, tendem a ser classificados como irmãos, da mesma forma que seus irmãos biológicos. Do conjunto da análise dos dados pode-se constatar a imensa complexidade dos relacionamentos nas famílias recompostas, a tensão entre parentesco consangüíneo e aquele socialmente criado e a extensão de formas de relações geradas pelas diferentes uniões de pais e padrastos e que se espraiam para além da unidade doméstica, constituindo verdadeiras constelações familiares. / This study aimed at analyzing the forms of relationship established by teenagers and youngsters in stepfamilies with their several relatives. The subjects have been born into a previous union of their mother and were presently living with her and her new partner, either formally married or not. Hence, it was attempted to describe the relationships these subjects experienced with the mother, her present partner, and relatives of both of them; with the biological father and his relatives; with their siblings, half-siblings and stepsiblings, either children of their stepfather or stepmother. Once these relationships were not restricted to the household space, they involved a wide range of relatives, many of them without a term to define the kin ties. In order to keep track of this multiple new bounds, the identities and roles conferred to these diverse characters were also investigated. Lastly, the socialization practices of the subjects were also analyzed, also related to the people that took part in this process. For this research, 11 teenagers and youngsters of both sexes, at the age band between 14 and 20 years old, of 10 stepfamilies of low-income classes of Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil, were interviewed. The transcripts of these interviews were analyzed through the standpoint of Anthropology and Psychology. The analysis aimed at apprehending recurring themes in their speeches, as well as particularities in the subjects\' experiences of relationships with relatives. These data were compared with the literature on the issue, in order to trace similarities and divergences, and were also interpreted through these theoretical tools. The analysis on the subjects\' reports pointed towards the centrality of the mother in the family life and indicated that they presented greater intimacy with her. Due to this centrality, the maternal relatives were also more present in the everyday life of the subjects, if compared to the paternal or the stepfather\'s ones. Because the latter does not bear blood ties with his stepchildren, he is prone to be considered a less important relative by them. However, despite this evaluation, due to the relation the stepfather had with the subjects\' mother and to their everyday living together, he may eventually be considered to be \"just like a father\", especially if he has participated in the socialization of the subjects. Related to their several siblings (blood, half and step ones), the subjects tended to confer a more steady and clear role to them. When half and stepsiblings lived in the same house for relatively long periods of time, they tended to consider each other as brothers and sisters, the same way as among blood siblings. From the set of the data analysis, it was possible to perceive the great complexity of relationships among stepfamilies, the tension between blood kinship and the socially established one, and the extension of family relations beyond the household limits due to the different unions established by parents and stepparents, which end up constituting the so-called family constellations.

This study examined stepparents' privacy boundary management when engaging in communicative interactions with stepchildren. I utilized Petronio's communication privacy management theory to investigate stepparents' motivations of disclosing or concealing from stepchildren as well as how stepparents' gender influences such motivations. Moreover, present research also explored types of privacy dilemma within stepfamily households from stepparent perspectives. Fifteen stepfathers and 15 stepmothers received in-depth interviews about their self-disclosing and concealment experiences with stepchildren. I identified confidant dilemma and accidental dilemma in stepfamily households from stepparents' perspectives, as well as stepparents' gender differences in self-disclosing and concealing motivations. Findings also suggest that stepparents reveal and conceal from stepchildren out of same motivations: establishing good relationships, viewing stepchildren as own children, helping stepchildren with problems resulting from the divorce and viewing stepchildren as "others." The result also indicates that stepparents experienced dialectical tensions between closedness and openness during the decision of revealing or concealing from stepchildren.

Stepfamilies are shown by existing research as having multiple problems unique to this type of family, some of which include role ambiguity, role strain, role captivity, increased stress and adjustment problems in children. Stepparents are portrayed as evil, abusive and wicked in the media, literature or film, while stepchildren are variously portrayed as victims, naughty and manipulative. These popular perceptions of stepfamilies appear to be shaped by myths or dominant narratives which serve to shape stepfamily member's experience of and roles in the reconstituted family. Drawing on the work of postmodernism, social constructionism and the narrative theorists this study will expose those dominant narrative or myths which shape the experience of two stepfamilies. Using an emergent design, the experiences of these two families is described in an attempt to highlight some of the implications such an approach holds for both further research and psychotherapy. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This study shined light on the gap in literature about the impact of communication and involvement of stepparents has on emerging adult’s romantic attachment styles. A sample of 289 college students between the ages of 18 and 22 at the University of Kentucky was recruited to complete an online survey about their perceived experience with their stepparent and parental figures and the effects on their romantic attachment styles. Parental involvement in children’s lives and having good communication, sets the foundation for individuals to have secure attachment styles. Emerging adults who experience parental figures and stepparents as being uninterested or passive in their relationship experience have higher anxious and avoidant attachment styles. These findings inform therapists about the importance of recognizing attachment injuries when dealing with individuals and supports the need for all parental figures to be involved in their child’s life and have positive communication skills.

Stepfamilies are shown by existing research as having multiple problems unique to this type of family, some of which include role ambiguity, role strain, role captivity, increased stress and adjustment problems in children. Stepparents are portrayed as evil, abusive and wicked in the media, literature or film, while stepchildren are variously portrayed as victims, naughty and manipulative. These popular perceptions of stepfamilies appear to be shaped by myths or dominant narratives which serve to shape stepfamily member's experience of and roles in the reconstituted family. Drawing on the work of postmodernism, social constructionism and the narrative theorists this study will expose those dominant narrative or myths which shape the experience of two stepfamilies. Using an emergent design, the experiences of these two families is described in an attempt to highlight some of the implications such an approach holds for both further research and psychotherapy. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die herscomgestelde gesin word in hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek as 'n kompleksa alternatiewe gesinstruktuur met eiesoortige strukturele kenmerke, probleemarecs en rituele wat nie aan die norm von die kerngesin ontleen kan word nie. In die literotuuroorsig word hierdie aspekte van nader beskou en tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dot die belangrike rol van die eie ouer in die hersoomgestelde gesin grootliks misgekyk word. Die verbondenheid van die eie ouer aan beide die ouer-kind- en die nuwe egpoorsisteme mack ditvir hom/hoar moontlik om 'n sleutelrol te vervul tydens gesinsinteroksies, eenheidsvorming en die opvoedingsgebeure in die hersoamgestelde gesin. Dit is moontlik vir die eie ouer om vanuit 'n unieke posisie as 'n buffer te dien in die problemotiese stiefouer-stiefkindverhoudinge. Hierdie maontlikheid bestaon egter slegs indien die eie ouer oor voldoende kennis, insig en voardighede beskik. 'n Uitgebreide kwalitatiewe ondersoek aan die hand van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met die lede van ses hersaamgestelde gesinne het die volgende tendense aan die lig gebring: • Eie overs verwag van nuwe egliede om kinders in die hersaamgestelde gesin uit die staanspoor te aanvoor en lief te he. • Eie overs koester konflikterende gevoelens ten opsigte van die dissiplinering van hul kinders deur die stiefouer. • Eie ouers, sfiefouers en kinders in hersaamgestelde gesinne goon dikwels gebuk onder d\e los van onverwerkte gevoelens van verdriet en verlies. • Die hantering van finansies ten opsigte van inwonende eie en stiefkinders, asook nie-inwonende kinders en vorige egliede skep spanning en bemoeilik goeie verhoudinge. • Eie ouers is dikwels so verdeeld tussen die belange van nul kinders en die van hul nuwe moats dot hulle dit moeilik vind om in 'n tweede huwelik 'n betekenisvolle verhouding met hul nuwe lewensmaat op te bou. Genoemde tendense het 'n bepolende rol gespeel in die ontwikkeling von 'n begeleidingsprogram vir eie ouers. Agt sessies met doelwitte geboseer op hierdie probleemoreas is gestruktureer om die eie ouer met noodsaaklike kennis en vaardighede toe te rus ten opsigte van harmoniese verhoudingstigting en -onderhouding in hersaamgesfelde gesinne. Die begeleidingsprogram is deur middel van 'n fokusgroeponderhoud aan die evaluering von vier ouerpare in hersaamgestelde gesinne onde&Werp en is aon die hand van hul aanbevelings verfyn en gefinaliseer. / Educational Studies / D. Ed.(Psychology of Education)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in communication between parents and adolescents in restructured and structured families. To supplement the literature, two groups of adolescents were given questionnaires on parent child communication. The experimental group was from restructured families while the control group was from structured families. An in depth study through interviews and Thematic Apperception Tests was done. Furthermore, the researcher supported her study by exploring case studies, group therapy sessions and some sessions during her years of internship. Besides the fact that there was no significant difference in communication between these groups, language as a factor in communication seemed to have a significant impact. In the eight moments (criteria) under which the questions of the questionnaire were categorized, it came out that good communication is not dependent on the structure of the family but on the interaction of individuals within any family. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)