The Relation between Adolescents' Perceptions of their Family Lives and their Adjustment in Stepfather Families

Abstract

This study assessed the relation between adolescents 'perceptions offamily life and their adjustment in stepfather families. Adolescents and biological mothers from 117 stepfather families were interviewed as a part of the National Survey of Children. Data gathered included a number of measures of adolescent adjustment (from both adolescent and maternal reports) and adolescents'perceptions offamily life. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses, controlling for demographic variables, revealed that adolescents' adjustment was related to theirperceptions of lower levels ofparentalpunishment more parental rewards and consistency, more parental agreement in child-rearing issues, more traditional beliefs regarding marriage and family life, and less anger at their mothers' remarriage. These findings support the notion that adolescents' perceptions of their family lives are related to their adjustment in stepfather families.