A qualitative study of the experiences of young adult stepchildren : developing a relationship with a stepfather

Abstract

Family researchers have increasingly focused on Stepfamilies over the last two decades, in part because of concern that stepchildren have poorer outcomes in a variety of domains compared to children in intact families. Studies of Stepfamily relationships have shown that the stepparent-stepchild relationship is an important relationship, which impacts on family functioning within the stepfamily, and on child well-being. Although this relationship has been studied, there has been less investigation of stepchildren’s experience of this relationship. This study investigated the stepfather-stepchild relationship using the retrospective accounts of young adult stepchildren. Twenty-five stepchildren between the ages of 17 and 29 were interviewed about their experiences and views of this relationship. Interview data was transcribed and two analyses were conducted: a thematic analysis of the interview data and a narrative analysis of the narrative forms that stepchildren described. Four themes relating to positive experiences were identified: Feeling supported by the stepfather, the creation of a happy family, liking the stepfather’s personality, and perceiving the stepfather as cautious about discipline. Four themes relating to negative experiences were: Resenting imposed rules or values, perceiving the family as becoming divided, perceiving the stepfathers’ personality as difficult, and experiencing difficulty negotiating family rules and boundaries. Five narrative types were identified: Continual positive regard, struggle and resentment, distance, deterioration and recovery, and gradual improvement. These results are discussed in terms of how they fit within the existing body of literature, along with implications for future research.