The Effects of Perceived Closeness to Custodial Parents, Stepparents and Nonresident Parents on Adolescent Self-Esteem

Using data from 930 adolescents in custodial mother-stepfather families, and 301 adolescents in custodial father-stepmother families, the influences of closeness to parental figures-custodial, step, and nonresidenton adolescents' self-esteem were examined. Using family systems theory as a framework, the primary research question addressed was whether the relative influence of each parent on adolescents' self-esteem depended primarily on their status as custodial, step-, or nonresident parents, and whether these influences differed for adolescents with stepmothers, compared to those with stepfathers. Results indicate that adolescents' perceived closeness to their female resident parents (custodial or step-) has a positive effect on self-esteem. Closeness to resident female parents explains the largest relative proportion of the variance in adolescent self-esteem, compared to male resident parents or to nonresident parents of either sex.