Interdependencies of Marital and Stepparent-Stepchild Relationships and Children's Psychological Adjustment: Research Findings and Clinical Implications

This multimethod-multisource study examined the interdependencies of marital and stepparent-stepchild relationships and children's psychological adjustment. In stepmother families, higher marital quality was associated with more positive stepmother-stepson relationships and better stepson adjustment, but less positive stepmother-stepdaughter relationships and poorer stepdaughter adjustment. In stepfather families, stepfathers were more positive toward stepchildren of both sexes to the extent they had higher quality marital relationships. Findings are interpreted from a family systems perspective, and implications for interventions are discussed.