ABSTRACT
Measures of stepsibling relations, step/parent-child relations, and stepfamily relations were taken from both adults and children in 105 stepfamilies. Children’s interactions with half-siblings and siblings were slightly more positive than with stepsiblings (especially cross-sex stepsibling pairs) although all relationships were relatively positive. Parents in families with stepsibling subsystems felt closer to their biological children than parents who did not have stepchildren. They also felt stepchildren negatively affected their relationship with their biological children. When stepsibling subsystems are present, parents more often discipline only their biological children. When stepsibling subsystems are not present the stepparent is more likely to be perceived as playing a parental role, including disciplining the stepchildren. In general, adults in stepfamilies have more difficulty than do children coping with stepsibling subsystems. In the absence of stepsibling subsystems, the tendency is to incorporate the nuclear family model.
