This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by SCHWEBEL, A. I. Articles by RENNER, M. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

A Study of Perceptions of the Stepparent Role

Ohio State University

MARK A. FINE

University of Dayton

MAUREENA A. RENNER

Ohio State University

This study was designed to test whether there is a lack of social consensus about how stepparents should and will act as parents, and whether individuals in society perceive stepparent roles as similar to or different from the roles of biological and adoptive parents. Two-hundred and forty introductory psychology students were randomly assigned to complete one of three versions (biological parent, adoptive parent, and stepparent) of the Family Role Questionnaire and a demographic instrument. The Family Role Questionnaire consists of 16 vignettes describing a variety of situations calling for some degree of parental behavior. As hypothesized, there was greater variability in subjects' responses to how stepparents, in contrast to biological and adoptive parents, would actually respond and how they should behave in the situations in the vignettes. In addition, respondents thought that stepparents were less obligated and less likely than were biological and adoptive parents to engage in the supportive parental behaviors called for in the situations. Implications for future research and for interventions with members of stepfamilies are discussed.

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 12, No. 1, 43-57 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/019251391012001004


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. J. Johnson, K. B. Wright, E. A. Craig, E. S. Gilchrist, L. T. Lane, and M. M. Haigh A model for predicting stress levels and marital satisfaction for stepmothers utilizing a stress and coping approach Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 2008; 25(1): 119 - 142. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Goldscheider and G. Kaufman Willingness to Stepparent: Attitudes About Partners Who Already Have Children Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2006; 27(10): 1415 - 1436. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. A. Baxter, D. O. Braithwaite, L. Bryant, and A. Wagner Stepchildren's Perceptions of the Contradictions in Communication with Stepparents Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, August 1, 2004; 21(4): 447 - 467. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. A. MASON, S. HARRISON-JAY, G. M. SVARE, and N. H. WOLFINGER Stepparents: De Facto Parents or Legal Strangers? Journal of Family Issues, May 1, 2002; 23(4): 507 - 522. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. A. Baxter, D. O. Braithwaite, and J. H. Nicholson Turning Points in the Development of Blended Families Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, June 1, 1999; 16(3): 291 - 314. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. H. Bray What Does a Typical Stepfamily Look Like? The Family Journal, January 1, 1994; 2(1): 66 - 69. [Abstract]

				W. MARSIGLIO Contemporary Scholarship on Fatherhood: Culture, Identity, and Conduct Journal of Family Issues, December 1, 1993; 14(4): 484 - 509. [Abstract]

				W. MARSIGLIO Stepfathers With Minor Children Living at Home: Parenting Perceptions and Relationship Quality Journal of Family Issues, June 1, 1992; 13(2): 195 - 214. [Abstract]