Risk and Resilience Factors Linked with the Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescents, Stepparents and Biological Parents

Abstract

Abstract Using data from three members (adolescent, stepparent and biological parent) of eighty (80) stepfamilies, the effects of individual, interpersonal and systemic factors in each member's psychosocial adjustment were examined. Using a risk and resilience framework, the primary objective addressed whether different factors would influence each type of stepfamily members' adjustment in similar or different ways. Multiple regression results showed that each stepfamily member's adjustment is affected by both factors shared by all three members, such as the quality of communication and the length of cohabitation, and factors unique to their position in the family, such as parent-child alliances, age and sex of respondent. Results also highlighted the role of reciprocity, contradiction and bi-directional effects in the psychosocial adjustment of stepfamily members.