Coleman, M., Ganong, L., Russell, L., & Frye-Cox, N. (2015). Stepchildren’s Views About Former Step-Relationships Following Stepfamily Dissolution. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(3), 775-790. doi:
King, V., Boyd, L. M., & Thorsen, M. L. (2015). Adolescents’ Perceptions of Family Belonging in Stepfamilies. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(3), 761-774. doi:
Garneau, C. L. and Adler-Baeder, F. (2015), Changes in Stepparents’ Coparenting and Parenting Following Participation in a Community-Based Relationship Education Program. Family Process. doi: 10.1111/famp.12133
Divorce among physicians and other healthcare professionals in the United States: analysis of census survey data
Mauskopf Susan S., O’Leary Allison K., Banihashemi Adria, Weiner Michelle, and Cookston Jeffrey T.. Childhood Obesity. http://dx.doi:10.1089/chi.2014.0053.
Relational frames as mediators of everyday talk and relational satisfaction in stepparent–stepchild relationships Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, first published on January 28, 2015 doi:10.1177/0265407514568751
Gender Differences in Depression across Parental Roles Social Work first published online February 5, 2015 doi:10.1093/sw/swu057
Coleman, M., Ganong, L., Russell, L. and Frye-Cox, N. (2015), Stepchildren’s Views About Former Step-Relationships Following Stepfamily Dissolution. Journal of Marriage and Family.
Favez, N., Widmer, E. D., Doan, M., & Tissot, H. (2015). Coparenting in stepfamilies: Maternal promotion of family cohesiveness with partner and with father. Journal of Child and Family Studies, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0130-x
Ganong, L., Coleman, M., Jamison, T., Feistman, R. 2015, March 2). Divorced Mothers’ Coparental Boundary Maintenance After Parents Repartner. Journal of Family Psychology, http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2015-09313-001
Pace, G. T., Shafer, K., Jensen, T. M., & Larson, J. H. (2015). Stepparenting issues and relationship quality: The role of clear communication. Journal of Social Work, 15(1), 24-44. doi:
Zito, R. C. (2015). Family structure history and teenage cohabitation: Instability, socioeconomic disadvantage, or transmission? Journal of Family Issues,36(3), 299-325. doi:
Doodson, L. J. (2014). Understanding the factors related to stepmother anxiety: A qualitative approach. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(8), 645-667. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2014.959111
Doodson, L. J., & Davies, A. P. C. (2014). Different challenges, different well-being: A comparison of psychological well-being across stepmothers and biological mothers and across four categories of stepmothers. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(1), 49-63. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2013.862094
Finlay, A. K., Cookston, J. T., Saenz, D. S., Baham, M. E., Parke, R. D., Fabricius, W., & Braver, S. (2014). Attributions of fathering behaviors among adolescents: The role of gender, ethnicity, family structure, and depressive symptoms. Journal of Family Issues, 35(4), 501-525. doi:
Fox, W. E., & Shriner, M. (2014). Remarried couples in premarital education: Does the content match participant needs? Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(4), 276-299. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2014.901841
George, C. M., & Fernandez, M. S. (2014). A case study of a stepfamily’s relationship experiences before and after the death of a custodial biological parent. The Family Journal, 22(2), 258-264. doi:
Jensen, T. M., Shafer, K., & Larson, J. H. (2014). (Step)parenting attitudes and expectations: Implications for stepfamily functioning and clinical intervention. Families in Society, 95(3), 213-220. doi:
Jovic, S., Delpierre, C., Ehlinger, V., Sentenac, M., Young, H., Arnaud, C., & Godeau, E. (2014). Associations between life contexts and early sexual initiation among young women in France. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 46(1), 31-39. doi:
Kellas, J. K., Baxter, L., LeClair-Underberg, C., Thatcher, M., Routsong, T., Normand, E. L., & Braithwaite, D. O. (2014). Telling the story of stepfamily beginnings: The relationship between young-adult stepchildren’s stepfamily origin stories and their satisfaction with the stepfamily. Journal of Family Communication, 14(2), 149-166. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2013.864294
Koren, C., & Lipman-Schiby, S. (2014). “not a replacement”: Emotional experiences and practical consequences of israeli second couplehood stepfamilies constructed in old age. Journal of Aging Studies, 31, 70-82. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2014.09.002
Lucier‐Greer, M., Adler‐Baeder, F., Harcourt, K. T., & Gregson, K. D. (2014). Relationship education for stepcouples reporting relationship instability—Evaluation of the Smart Steps: Embrace the Journey curriculum. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40(4), 454-469. doi:
Meggiolaro, S., & Ongaro, F. (2014). Family contexts and adolescents’ emotional status. Journal of Youth Studies, 17(10), 1306-1329. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2014.918246
Niolon, R. (2014). The triumph of hope over experience: Stepfamily formation. Psyccritiques, 59(14) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0035924
Nuru, A. K., & Wang, T. R. (2014). “She was stomping on everything that we used to think of as a family”: Communication and turning points in cohabiting (step)families. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(2), 145-163. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2013.871957
Oliva, A., Arranz, E., Parra, A., & Olabarrieta, F. (2014). Family structure and child adjustment in Spain. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(1), 10-19. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9681-2
Parent, J., Clifton, J., Forehand, R., Golub, A., Reid, M., & Pichler, E. R. (2014). Parental mindfulness and dyadic relationship quality in low-income cohabiting Black stepfamilies: Associations with parenting experienced by adolescents. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 3(2), 67-82. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000020
Pryor, J. (2014). Stepfamilies: A global perspective on research, policy, and practice. New York, NY, US: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, New York, NY.
Ryan, R. M., Claessens, A., & Markowitz, A. J. (2014). Associations between family structure change and child behavior problems: The moderating effect of family income. Child Development, doi:
Shapiro, D. (2014). Stepparents and parenting stress: The roles of gender, marital quality, and views about gender roles. Family Process, 53(1), 97-108. doi:
Sherman, C. W., Webster, N. J., & Antonucci, T. C. (2014). “Dementia caregiving in the context of late-life remarriage: Support networks, relationship quality, and well-being.”: Erratum. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(1), 246.
Skogrand, L., Mendez, E., & Higginbotham, B. (2014). Latina women’s experiences in a stepfamily education course. The Family Journal, 22(1), 49-55. doi:
Thomson, E. (2014). Family complexity in Europe. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 654(1), 245-258. doi:
Vanassche, S., Sodermans, A. K., Matthijs, K., & Swicegood, G. (2014). The effects of family type, family relationships and parental role models on delinquency and alcohol use among Flemish adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(1), 128-143. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9699-5
Heintz-Martin, V., Le Bourdais, C., & Hamplova, D. (2014). Childbearing among canadian stepfamilies . Canadian Studies in Population, 41(1-2), 61-77. doi:https://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/csp/article/view/21636
King, V., Thorsen, M. L., & Amato, P. R.Factors associated with positive relationships between stepfathers and adolescent stepchildren. Social Science Research, (0) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.03.010
The list of some of the most important research studies related to divorce, remarriage and stepfamilies has been updated for the year 2013. This is not a complete list, but the major studies that provide new insights into marriage formation, custody, law and so forth.
Recent work by Danielle Shapiro at the University of Michigan provides some new insights about the parenting stress experienced by stepmothers. She notes that in general couples with higher quality marriages report less parenting stress and writes, “…this was particularly pronounced for stepparents. In addition, stepparents with traditional gender views reported higher levels of parenting stress… for stepparents, both nontraditional gender views and high marital quality jointly predicted the greatest protection from parenting stress. In fact, stepparents with both high marital adjustment and nontraditional gender views were indistinguishable in terms of parenting stress from biological parents, while stepparents who were low on one or both of these dimensions experienced substantially more parenting stress.”
Shapiro suggests that programs and treatment programs for stepparents should include attention to gender roles and marital quality as ways to address parental stress.
Shapiro, D. (2014). Stepparents and parenting stress: The roles of gender, marital quality, and views about gender roles. Family Process, 53(1), 97-108. doi:10.1111/famp.12062
More 2014 studies on stepparenting and stepfamilies…..
Doodson, L. J., & Davies, A. P. C. (2014). Different challenges, different well-being: A comparison of psychological well-being across stepmothers and biological mothers and across four categories of stepmothers. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(1), 49-63. doi:10.1080/10502556.2013.862094
Ganong, L., & Coleman, M. (2014). Responsibility inferences and intergenerational obligations to parents and stepparents: Are Step/Children less obligated when older adults are at fault for their problems? Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(1), 64-81. doi:10.1080/10502556.2013.862098
Nuru, A. K., & Wang, T. R. (2014). “She was stomping on everything that we used to think of as a family”: Communication and turning points in cohabiting (step)families. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(2), 145-163. doi:10.1080/10502556.2013.871957
A complete list of the major articles published in 2014 with links to other articles. Complete list of articles from.
Divorce continues to be an important area of family and social science research. Below are a few of the studies published in the early part of 2014 that provide insight into divorce issues. Included in this summary are demographic, economic, causes of divorce, adjustment issues for adults and children, divorce education, marriage & relationship education, non-residential parenting and a new report on custody and shared parenting.
Demographic Issues
Bellido, H., & Marcén, M.Divorce laws and fertility. Labour Economics, (0) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2014.01.005
Kennedy, S., & Ruggles, S. (2014). Breaking up is hard to count: The rise of divorce in the united states, 1980-2010. Demography, , 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13524-013-0270-9
Kulu, H. (2014). Marriage duration and divorce: The seven-year itch or a lifelong itch? Demography, , 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13524-013-0278-1
Divorce & Economics– Especially the Recession
Baghestani, H., & Malcolm, M. (2014). Marriage, divorce and economic activity in the US: 1960-2008. Applied Economics Letters, , 528-532. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2013.872753
Cohen, P. (2014). Recession and divorce in the united states,. Population Research and Policy Review, 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11113-014-9323-z
Causes of Divorce
Røsand, G. B., Slinning, K., Røysamb, E., & Tambs, K. (2014). Relationship dissatisfaction and other risk factors for future relationship dissolution: A population-based study of 18,523 couples. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49(1), 109-119. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0681-3
Adult Adjustment to Divorce
Kulik, L., & Kasa, Y. (2014). Adjustment to divorce: A comparison of ethiopian immigrant and israeli-born men. Journal of Community Psychology, 42(2), 191-208.
Children’s Adjustment to Divorce
Mandemakers, J. J., & Kalmijn, M. (2014). Do mother’s and father’s education condition the impact of parental divorce on child well-being? Social Science Research, 44(0), 187-199. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2013.12.003
Non-residential & Shared Parenting Issues
Finzi-Dottan, R., & Cohen, O. (2014). Predictors of parental communication and cooperation among divorcing spouses. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(1), 39-51. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9684-z
Modecki, K. L., Hagan, M. J., Sandler, I., & Wolchik, S. A. (2014). Latent profiles of nonresidential father engagement six years after divorce predict long-term offspring outcomes. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, , 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2013.865193
Rodriguez, S. R. (2014). “We’ll only see parts of each other’s lives:” the role of mundane talk in maintaining nonresidential parent–child relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,
Aging, Intergenerational Issues and Divorce
Cooney, T. M., Proulx, C. M., Snyder-Rivas, L., & Benson, J. J. (2014). Role ambiguity among women providing care for ex-husbands. Journal of Women & Aging, 26(1), 84-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2014.859502
Ganong, L., & Coleman, M. (2014). Responsibility inferences and intergenerational obligations to parents and stepparents: Are Step/Children less obligated when older adults are at fault for their problems? Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(1), 64-81. doi:10.1080/10502556.2013.862098
Stepfamily Issues
Doodson, L. J., & Davies, A. P. C. (2014). Different challenges, different well-being: A comparison of psychological well-being across stepmothers and biological mothers and across four categories of stepmothers. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(1), 49-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2013.862094
Marriage & Relationship Education
Cordova, J. V. (2014). Findings and future directions for marriage checkup research. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14321-011
Cordova, J. V. (2014). The marriage checkup practitioner’s guide: Promoting lifelong relationship health. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14321-000
Divorce Education
Stallman, H. M., & Sanders, M. R. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of family transitions triple P: A group-administered parenting program to minimize the adverse effects of parental divorce on children. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55(1), 33-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2013.862091
Legal Issues and Divorce Services
Pruett, M. K., & DiFonzo, J. H. (2014). Closing the Gap: Research, Policy, Practice and Shared Parenting AFCC Think Tank Final Report to be published in Family Court Review
Research Methods for Divorce Research
Lamela, D., Figueiredo, B., Bastos, A., & Martins, H. (2014). Psychometric properties of the portuguese version of the posttraumatic growth inventory short form among divorced adults. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 30(1), 3-14. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000161
Other Summaries of divorce research for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
November 8, 2013 Time: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Bowie A
Maintaining Intergenerational Stepkin Relations in Divorced Families
Presented by: Caroline Sanner, Ashton Chapman, Luke Russell, Lawrence Ganong, Marilyn Coleman
Remarriages have higher divorce rates than first marriages, suggesting that children may experience multiple stepfamily transitions. Little is known about how families navigate ex-stepkin relationships resulting from these transitions. Given the demonstrated importance of stepgrandparent/stepgrandchild relationships in remarried families, our grounded theory study seeks to explore relationship maintenance strategies with ex-stepgrandparents employed by stepgrandchildren following parental divorce. 13 former stepchildren were interviewed and common themes were identified. Preliminary results indicate that stepgrandchild’s age, steprelationship length, relationship quality, and presence of biological grandparents impacted young adults’ decisions to maintain contact with ex-stepgrandparents post-divorce.
Negotiating Nonresidential Parent-child Relationships in Emerging Adulthood
Presented by: Richard Feistman, Marilyn Coleman, Lawrence Ganong
The well-being of emerging adults’ (ages 18 to 25) often relies on the emotional and financial support provided by their parents. However, relationships between emerging adults and their divorced parents, particularly their nonresidential parents, are fragile. Our grounded theory study will result in a model of the processes involved in forming or maintaining relationships between emerging adults and their nonresidential parents. Preliminary results from 32 participants indicate that emerging adults’ often control levels of contact. Several factors, such as attitudes on family ties, influence the degree of contact emerging adults have with nonresidential parents.
Custody Arrangement Decisions Among Divorcing or Separating Parents
Presented by: Jaimee Hartenstein, Melinda Stafford Markham
A secondary qualitative data analysis of a database of interviews from a previous grounded theory study of 30 participants was conducted. This study investigated how divorced or separated parents determine the custody arrangements for their children. Four categories emerged from the data including no court involvement, agreement decided by couple to be included in divorce decree, court ordered arrangement, and custody changed over time. The findings suggest that there is a great deal of variation in the custody arrangements among divorcing or separating parents. There is not a universal arrangement that will be suitable for all divorcing or separating parents.
Custody Arrangement Decisions among Divorcing or Separating Parents
Young Adults’ Socialization Narratives After Parental Divorce
Presented by: Mick Cunningham, Kelly Skillingstead
Despite the enormous body of evidence investigating parental influences on children, we know remarkably little about how people think and talk about socialization processes. The current study focuses on young adults’ narrative explanations of how they perceive they were affected by their parents’ divorce. Results show that many young adults 1) believe that their parents have modeled behavior that the offspring hope to avoid in their own marriages, 2) lament the absence of effective relationship modeling, and 3) suggest they will themselves act in ways that are opposite of the behaviors they observed in their parents’ marriages.
Downloads: Young Adults’ Socialization Narratives after Parental Divorce
National Council on Family Relations–Divorce & Stepfamily Sessions
November 5, 2013 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm Bowie B
Presenter: Tom Blume
except from abstract…..I propose a theoretical integration that compares stepfamilies with coalition governments, suggesting that they share many developmental patterns and the factors influencing positive development or dissolution may be similar. Using political science concepts, I suggest that family adaptation to stepfamily life may be enhanced by focusing more explicitly on shifting alliances among family members and on perceived child well-being. A proposed strategy for prevention and intervention emphasizes issues of loyalty and representation in the political system of the stepfamily.