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Blended Families

Blended Families. Ally Schnabel, Caroline Ciatti , Leah Oliver, Violet Leiva. What is a blended family?. “A social unit consisting of two previously married parents and the children of their former marriages” “Modern Family” “Step-Family” Extremes .

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Blended Families

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  1. Blended Families Ally Schnabel, Caroline Ciatti, Leah Oliver, Violet Leiva

  2. What is a blended family? “A social unit consisting of two previously married parents and the children of their former marriages” “Modern Family” “Step-Family” Extremes

  3. Characteristics of Blended Families Blended Families • Role ambiguity • Presence of a stepparent, stepsibling, or half-sibling • One third of all weddings form step-families • Partner relationships • Parent- child relationships • Stepparent- child relationships

  4. “Blended Families” is a relatively new term and there are often misconceptionsabout the dynamics and commonalities of them. The assumptionsin this presentation are based on typical management problems like strains on marriage and finances All researchwas obtained from scientific and peer-reviewed research journals as well as government websites.

  5. Assumption #1 Couples who remarry after divorce are more likely to divorce again

  6. 70% of divorcees remarry • 60 % of remarriages fail. And they do so even more quickly than first marriages • 15 % of second marriages end after 3 years and almost 25% after 5 years Research

  7. Why? Rushing back into marriage Thinking the partner will change the situation vs. changing themselves Dealing with exes children

  8. Resources Counseling Stepfamilies and remarriages need to see specialized counselors Not traditional Need to apply advice to relationship Be patient, don’t expect immediate results

  9. Assumption #2 Blended families suffer from financial difficulties

  10. Only 20% of people discuss financial matters before they remarry - dangerous sign - top source of strife • Large number of children - cost associated with raising them • Money paid to exes for child support & alimony Research

  11. Solution Strategies The REALITY • Separate checkbooks - his, hers, ours - gives each person a sense of contribution • Get help from a financial advisor - identify goals -reasonable, achievable outcomes “There is no simple solution, particularly when money and memories are involved. But planning and openness are the best hope…”

  12. Assumption #3 Children who do not live with their biological parents do worse/have issues

  13. Dialectical opposition between the “old family” and the “new family” • Families with a husband or boyfriend present have higher incomes than families with a single mother. • Black teenagers living in blended families generally fare better than their counterparts living with single mothers. Research

  14. Why? Solidarity Boundary Management Adaptation

  15. Family Management Demands and Problems • The “Nuclear Family” has been the template for families within our society (15%), unrealistic expectations • Unique aspects of blended families - research currently relies on newlywed couples and first-married couples • Lack of societal norms to follow - communication, conflict and stress management

  16. Management Strategies 1. Creating and maintaining a solid group identity 2. Reducing inter-group bias and achieve family harmony 3. Marital and parental role negotiation Public Policy • Establish programs and education curricula that target aspects unique to blended families

  17. Community ResourceMs. Linda Michels, MA.Marriage and Family Therapist 3368 Sacramento Street San Francisco, CA 94118 (415) 800-3916 Cost: $150 max on sliding scale *Over 20 years of experience

  18. Conclusion The fact of the matter is that it CAN work. The trick is figuring out how to make it work.

  19. References • Adler-Baeder, F. & Higginbotham, B. (2004). Implications of remarriage and stepfamily formation for marriage education. Family Relations, 53, 448-458. • Brotherson, S. E. & Duncan, W. C. (2004). Rebinding ties that bind: Government efforts to preserve and promote marriage. Family Relation, 53, 459-468. • Portrie, Torey & Hill, Nicole (2005). Blended families: A critical review of the current research. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 13(4), 445-451. • PREP, Inc., (n.d.) Retrieved February 12, 2006, from http://www.prepinc.com/main. • Bumpass, Larry, and R. Kelly Raley. 1995. "Redefining Single-Parent Families: Cohabitation and Changing Family Reality." Demography 32 (February): 97–109.

  20. References cont. • National Center for Health Statistics (2002) http://www.remarriage.com/Remarriage-Facts/failure-of-second-marriages.html • Psychology Today, http://www.smartmarriages.com/remarrying.html • http://www.todaysmodernfamily.com/index.php/tag/remarriage-counseling • Schilling, E.A., Baucom, D. H., Burnett, C. K., Allen, E. S., & Ragland, L. (2003). Journal of Family Psychology, 17(1), 41-53. Ramsey & Masson, Stepparents Support of Stepchildren: A Comparative Analysis of Policies and Problems in the American and English Experience, 36 Syracuse l. REV 659, 681 (1985). • Borrine, M. Lisa; Handal, Paul J, et al. Family conflict and adolescent adjustment in intact, divorced, and blended families. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 59(5), Oct 1991, 753-755.

  21. References cont. • Braithwaite, D. O., Olson, L. N., Golish, T. D., Soukup, C., & Turman, P. (2001). 'Becoming a family': Developmental processes represented in blended family discourse. Journal Of Applied Communication Research, 29(3), 221-247. doi:10.1080/00909880128112 • Bodenmann, G., Bradbury, T. N., & Pihet, S. (2009). Relative contributions of treatment-related changes in communication skills and dyadic coping skills to the longitudinal course of marriage in the framework of marital distress prevention. Journal Of Divorce & Remarriage, 50(1), 1-21. doi:10.1080/10502550802365391 • Bass, L. E., & Warehime, M. (2011). Family structure and child health outcomes in the United States. Sociological Inquiry, 81(4), 527-548. doi:10.1111/j.1475-682X.2011.00391.x • Bachman, H. J., Coley, R., & Carrano, J. (2012). Low-income mothers' patterns of partnership instability and adolescents' socioemotional well-being. Journal Of Family Psychology, 26(2), 263-273. doi:10.1037/a0027427

  22. Thank you! Any Questions?

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