Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a New Measure of Stepparent–Adolescent Interaction

Stepparent-adolescent relationship quality is a key correlate of stepfamily functioning and adolescent well-being, yet research on stepparent-adolescent relationship development is limited by outdated data and insufficiently detailed measures of stepparent-adolescent interaction. This study features the development and psychometric evaluation of a modernized, granular measure of stepparent-adolescent interaction-the Stepparent-Adolescent Interaction Scale (SAIS)-grounded in the theoretical concept of ambiguous gain. Survey data were collected from 507 adolescents in the United States with a resident stepmother or stepfather (mean age: 15.36 years; 46% female; 62% non-Hispanic White, 20% Hispanic, 14% non-Hispanic Black, 4% non-Hispanic Asian or other), with inclusion of married and unmarried different-gender and same-gender stepcouples as well as stepfamilies with stepsiblings and half-siblings. We developed and tested 14 interaction types measured with 71 items informed by a foundational qualitative study. Analyses provided initial evidentiary support of internal consistency reliability, factorial validity, and construct validity. Findings support the utility of this new measure for examining stepparent-adolescent relationship development via interactions and correlates and consequences of interactional patterns. Future research can further validate the application of the SAIS across diverse contexts, and family practitioners can adapt and use the measure to assess and guide stepparent-adolescent interactions for purposes of relationship enhancement.