The Integrated Blended Family Adjustment Model (IBFAM): A Multi-Theoretical Framework for Understanding Stepchildren’s Wellbeing

The adjustment of stepchildren to blended family life is a complex, multidimensional process shaped by individual psychological factors, interpersonal dynamics, and broader systemic forces. Existing approaches often focus on singular levels of influence-micro (individual), mezzo (family relationships), or macro (societal structures). This paper proposes the Integrated Blended Family Adjustment Model (IBFAM), which integrates a structural framework of these level influences and includes a theoretical framework that combines Family Systems Theory (FST), the Risk and Resilience (R&R) Model, and the Life Course Perspective to provide an understanding of stepchildren’s adjustment. The model situates FST as the relational core, emphasizing family dynamics, subsystem interactions, and systemic equilibrium. The R&R model provides a strengths-based lens, identifying protective and risk factors that shape stepchildren’s adjustment. The Life Course Perspective introduces a temporal dimension, recognizing the cumulative effects of family transitions over time. These frameworks account for individual, relational, and systemic influences on stepchildren’s experiences. By integrating these perspectives, IBFAM highlights the bidirectional nature of family interactions, the role of external stressors and strengths, and the impact of family transitions on adjustment. The model has implications for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers seeking to develop interventions that support the stability of blended families and the wellbeing of children.