This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Fine, M. A. Articles by Ganong, L. H. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Consistency in Perceptions of the Step-Parent Role among Step-Parents, Parents and Stepchildren

University of Missouri, hdfsfine{at}showme.missouri.edu

Marilyn Coleman

University of Missouri

Lawrence H. Ganong

University of Missouri

The purposes of this study were to determine the degree of consistency in stepfamily members' perceptions of the step-parent role, to examine the relation between the degree of consistency in role perceptions and adjustment in stepfamilies, and to determine the extent to which clarity pertaining to the step-parent role was related to adjustment. Step-parents, parents and stepchildren from 40 stepfamilies completed a series of self-report questionnaires pertaining to their perceptions of the step-parent role and multiple levels of adjustment in their stepfamilies. Step-parents and parents perceived that the step-parent should and does play an active parental role, stepchildren were more likely to perceive that the step-parent should assume the less active role of `friend', and consistency in role perceptions was moderately strongly related to the interpersonal dimensions of adjustment in stepfamilies. The findings suggest that stepchildren have differing perceptions of the step-parent role than do their parents and step-parents.

Key Words: stepchildren • step-parent roles

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 15, No. 6, 810-828 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407598156006


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. J. Johnson, K. B. Wright, E. A. Craig, E. S. Gilchrist, L. T. Lane, and M. M. Haigh A model for predicting stress levels and marital satisfaction for stepmothers utilizing a stress and coping approach Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 2008; 25(1): 119 - 142. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. D. Stewart Boundary Ambiguity in Stepfamilies Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2005; 26(7): 1002 - 1029. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. E. Weaver and M. Coleman A mothering but not a mother role: A grounded theory study of the nonresidential stepmother role Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, August 1, 2005; 22(4): 477 - 497. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Hequembourg Unscripted motherhood: Lesbian mothers negotiating incompletely institutionalized family relationships Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 2004; 21(6): 739 - 762. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Duck Reflections on 15 Years of Editing of JSPR Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 1998; 15(6): 859 - 860.