Stepfamily Structural Complexities and Well-Being

About one in 10 minor children lives in a stepparent family. Stepfamilies are increasingly diverse and heterogeneous, stressing the importance of considering variation among stepfamilies and adopting a within-group approach. Using the 2020 National Couples’ Health and Time Study, we focus on partnered adults in a stepfamily with minor children, including parents with nonresidential children (n = 268). The goal of this study is to examine how stepfamily complexities, defined as union type, children’s residential status, parenthood configuration, and presence of shared child(ren), shape well-being. We consider three domains: couple relationship quality, family acceptance, and economic integration. Results suggest mixed evidence that stepfamily complexities were related to each of the well-being domains. We find that individuals in cohabiting stepfamilies reported lower levels of couple relationship satisfaction and economic integration than their counterparts in married stepfamilies. Individuals who share a biological/adoptive child with their partner experience lower levels of relationship coping. Children’s residential status and parenthood configurations were not associated with any well-being dimensions. These results imply that assessments of well-being in stepfamilies require attention to the different structural forms of stepfamilies.