Stepfamily Relationships: Development, Dynamics, and Interventions

The proliferation of divorces and remarriages at the end of the 20th century has made the concept of the stepfamily a common one in today's society. In the U.S., for example, half of all marriages are remarriages for one or both partners, and nearly one-third of the children in the U.S. will spend some time living in a stepparent household before they reach adulthood. Relationships within these blended families have their own characteristics, and much is known about their development. Despite advances in both research and clinical interventions, however, there has been little synthesis of knowledge beneficial to both investigators and practitioners. Stepfamily Relationships: Development, Dynamics, and Interventions offers what has so far been missing in the field - a comprehensive, multidisciplinary text that provides a state-of-the-art look at this important facet of family study. This volume examines the variety of relationships within step-households as well as between households, focusing on internal family dynamics while maintaining a cultural and historical viewpoint. The diversity and complexity of families is emphasized throughout, including gay and lesbian stepfamilies, stepfamilies of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, and stepfamilies across the life course. It will be a welcome text and reference for all those who study and work with stepfamilies and families in general.

This resource for those studying and working with families examines the variety of relationships among members of stepfamilies. Using a normative-adaptive perspective, the authors (both: U. of Missouri, Columbia) explore such topics as the cultural underpinnings of stepfamily relationships, couple dynamics in stepfamilies, and the effects of stepfamily living on children. The diversity and complexity of families is emphasized throughout, with coverage including gay and lesbian stepfamilies, stepfamilies of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, and stepfamilies across the lifecourse.
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This volume focuses on a wide range of behaviors and outcomes in stepfamily relationships, both positive and negative. The authors use the normative-adaptive perspective to seek out and study adaptive, well-functioning stepfamilies and find how they differ from those who struggle to cope. It will be a welcome text and reference for all those who study and work with stepfamilies and families in general.

Stepfamily Relationships: Development, Dynamics, and Interventions offers what has so far been missing in the field - a comprehensive, multidisciplinary text that provides a state-of-the-art look at this important facet of family study. This volume examines the variety of relationships within step-households as well as between households, focusing on internal family dynamics while maintaining a cultural and historical viewpoint. The diversity and complexity of families is emphasized throughout, including gay and lesbian stepfamilies, stepfamilies of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, and stepfamilies across the life course. It will be a welcome text and reference for all those who study and work with stepfamilies and families in general.

Lawrence H. Ganong, Ph.D. is a professor of Nursing and Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Missouri (MU) Sinclair School of Nursing. A noted authority on post divorce families, Ganong's research has included intergenerational family obligations, post-divorce family dynamics and social cognitions related to family life. Ganong is a member of the National Council on Family Relations Board of Directors, and has conducted workshops for stepfamily members and for professionals working with stepfamilies. He is the co-editor of numerous articles, books, and book chapters on post-divorce family relationships and step families.

Studying Stepfamilies.- The Cultural Context of Stepfamilies.- Paths to Stepfamily Life.- Courtship in Stepfamilies.- Couple Dynamics in Stepfamilies.- Gay and Lesbian Cohabiting Couples in Stepfamilies.- The Dynamics of Parenting and Stepparenting.- Effects of Stepfamily Living on Children.- Siblings, Half-siblings, and Stepsiblings.- Grandparents and Stepgrandparents.- Clinical Perspectives on Stepfamily Dynamics.- Epilogue.