A Typological Examination of Communication Competence and Mental Health in Stepchildren

Despite continued interest in communication and family functioning, researchers have been challenged to adequately describe the complicated dynamics and complex configurations of stepfamilies. This study extends previous stepfamily research by classifying stepchildren according to their beliefs and experiences with key dimensions of stepfamily life, and by examining differences in perceptions of communication competence and mental health among different stepfamily types. Participants included 586 stepchildren from four different states who completed a series of survey measures. Results of cluster and discriminant analyses revealed five discrete types of stepfamilies, including bonded, functional, ambivalent, evasive, and conflictual stepfamilies. Estimates of validity for the typology revealed significant differences in self-reported communication competence and mental health among the five stepfamily types, as well as significant differences in perceptions of mothers’ and stepparents’ communication competence. Keywords: Stepfamily FunctioningStepfamily TypologyCommunication CompetenceMental Health This study is part of the author's dissertation, completed under the direction of Dr. Dawn O. Braithwaite, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This study is part of the author's dissertation, completed under the direction of Dr. Dawn O. Braithwaite, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Acknowledgments The author extends his gratitude to the Editor, Dr. Leslie A. Baxter, Dr. Tamara D. Afifi, Dr. Kory Floyd, and Dr. Paul Turman for their comments and suggestions on this manuscript. Notes This study is part of the author's dissertation, completed under the direction of Dr. Dawn O. Braithwaite, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 1. Forty-seven (8.0%) respondents were African American, thirty-one (5.3%) were Hispanic American, and twelve (2.0%) were Asian American. 2. Forty-six participants reported that their parent and stepparent had been living together anywhere from 3 months to 17 years, with a mean length of coresidence of 6.85 years (SD=5.06). 3. Two hundred and fifteen (36.7%) of the participants reported having no stepsiblings, ninety-nine (16.9%) reported only have one stepsibling, one hundred and sixty (27.3%) reported having two stepsiblings, and the remaining one hundred and seven (18.2%) reported having three or more stepsiblings. Additional informationNotes on contributorsPaul Schrodt Paul Schrodt (PhD, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2003) is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Texas Christian University.