Blended Families - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Blended Families

Ally Schnabel, Caroline Ciatti, Leah Oliver, Violet LeivaSlide2

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 Slide3

Characteristics of Blended Families

Blended FamiliesPresence of a stepparent, stepsibling, or half-siblingOne third of all weddings form step-familiesPartner relationships

Parent- child relationships

Stepparent- child relationships

Role ambiguitySlide4

“Blended Families”

is a relatively new term and there are often misconceptions

about the dynamics and commonalities of them

.

The assumptions in this presentation

are based on typical management problems

like strains on marriage and finances

All

research

was obtained from scientific and peer-reviewed research journals as well as government websites.Slide5

Assumption #1

Couples who remarry after divorce are more likely to divorce againSlide6

Research

70% of divorcees remarry60 % of remarriages fail. And they do so even more quickly than first marriages15 % of second marriages end after 3 years and almost 25% after 5 yearsSlide7

Why?

Rushing back into

marriage

Thinking the partner

will change the

situation vs. changing themselves

Dealing with exes

childrenSlide8

Resources

Counseling Stepfamilies and remarriages need to see specialized counselors Not traditional

Need to apply advice

to relationship

Be patient, don’t expect immediate resultsSlide9

Assumption #2

Blended families suffer from financial difficultiesSlide10

Research

Only 20% of people discuss financial matters before they remarry - dangerous sign - top source of strifeLarge number of children - cost associated with raising them

Money paid to exes for child support & alimonySlide11

Solution

StrategiesThe REALITYSeparate 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…”Slide12

Assumption #3

Children who do not live with their biological parents do worse/have issuesSlide13

Research

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.Slide14
Slide15

Solidarity

Boundary Management

Adaptation

Why?Slide16

Family Management

Demands and ProblemsThe “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

couplesLack of societal norms to follow

- communication, conflict and stress managementSlide17

Management

Strategies1. Creating and maintaining a solid group identity

2. Reducing inter-group bias

and achieve family harmony

3. Marital and parental role negotiationPublic Policy

Establish programs and education curricula that target aspects unique to blended familiesSlide18

Community Resource

Ms. Linda Michels, MA.Marriage and Family Therapist3368 Sacramento StreetSan Francisco, CA 94118(415) 800-3916Cost: $150 max on sliding scale*Over 20 years of experience Slide19

Conclusion

The fact of the matter is that it CAN work. The trick is figuring out how to make it work.Slide20

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.Slide21

References cont.

National Center for Health Statistics (2002) http://www.remarriage.com/Remarriage-Facts/failure-of-second-marriages.htmlPsychology Today, http://www.smartmarriages.com/remarrying.htmlhttp://www.todaysmodernfamily.com/index.php/tag/remarriage-counselingSchilling, 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.Slide22

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:10.1080/00909880128112Bodenmann, 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.xBachman, 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/a0027427Slide23

Thank you!

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