R Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptJ Marriage Fam. Author manuscript; available in

R Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptJ Marriage Fam. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 August 23.Umberson et al.PageStepparents Roughly one fourth of all NIK333 msds families with minor children include stepchildren, and about half of stepfamilies have nonresidential stepchildren (Stewart, 2005) with nearly a third of U.S. children spending some time in a stepparent household (Ganong Coleman, 2004). Stepfamily characteristics are highly diverse, with shifting relationship types (stepsiblings, half siblings, stepgrandparents), relational dynamics, and living arrangements (Ganong Coleman). When children are young and require continuous parental care, stepparenthood may be associated with elevated parental strain that is often exacerbated by marital conflict, role and boundary ambiguity, and incomplete institutionalization of stepfamilies (Stewart). Stepparenting may be especially stressful for stepmothers (Stewart). Because of traditional gender dynamics in stepfamilies, stepmothers tend to assume Beclabuvir web primary responsibility for relationships with minor and adult stepchildren and act as kinkeepers in the blended family (Schmeeckle, 2007). Yet Kohler, Behrman, and Skytthe (2005) found that having stepchildren in the home reduced self-reports of well-being for men but not women. For stepparents who remained married over time, Stewart found that the stress of boundary ambiguity declined with union duration (for marital and cohabiting unions). Most research on stepfamilies focuses on wellbeing of children rather than parents. A recent exception, relying on cross-sectional data, indicated that adults living with minor stepchildren were no more distressed than their childless peers (Evenson Simon, 2005). Future research should consider whether selection processes play a role in that individuals who become stepparents and remain married may be those who feel more open to the parenting role. Given the significant number of adults who stepparent at some point in their lives, it is important to consider how stepchildren affect well-being later in the life course. Evenson and Simon (2005) reported that having nonresidential adult stepchildren was associated with elevated levels of distress, relative to the childless and relative to other parents, but their study is limited by a cross-sectional design. Pudrovska’s (2009) longitudinal analysis showed that having a stepchild does not compromise mental health of middle-aged and older adults and that the psychological implications of stepparenthood do not differ by gender. Whereas women may be more affected by enduring parental strains in young and middle adulthood, the effect of stepparenthood may be similar for mothers and fathers in later life when men’s and women’s parental roles tend to become more similar. At this point, research evidence is mixed, and generalizations cannot be drawn. This heterogeneity points to the importance of context in which the stepparent role unfolds, including characteristics of parents and children as well as the quality of family relationships. Parents who have both stepchildren and their own children may face unique stressors associated with parenting children with different biological relatedness, contributing to greater psychological distress. Moreover, the experience of stepparenthood may depend on timing in the life course–with different effects for those who become stepparents of a young child, an adolescent, or an adult child. Future research should explore how the e.R Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptJ Marriage Fam. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 August 23.Umberson et al.PageStepparents Roughly one fourth of all families with minor children include stepchildren, and about half of stepfamilies have nonresidential stepchildren (Stewart, 2005) with nearly a third of U.S. children spending some time in a stepparent household (Ganong Coleman, 2004). Stepfamily characteristics are highly diverse, with shifting relationship types (stepsiblings, half siblings, stepgrandparents), relational dynamics, and living arrangements (Ganong Coleman). When children are young and require continuous parental care, stepparenthood may be associated with elevated parental strain that is often exacerbated by marital conflict, role and boundary ambiguity, and incomplete institutionalization of stepfamilies (Stewart). Stepparenting may be especially stressful for stepmothers (Stewart). Because of traditional gender dynamics in stepfamilies, stepmothers tend to assume primary responsibility for relationships with minor and adult stepchildren and act as kinkeepers in the blended family (Schmeeckle, 2007). Yet Kohler, Behrman, and Skytthe (2005) found that having stepchildren in the home reduced self-reports of well-being for men but not women. For stepparents who remained married over time, Stewart found that the stress of boundary ambiguity declined with union duration (for marital and cohabiting unions). Most research on stepfamilies focuses on wellbeing of children rather than parents. A recent exception, relying on cross-sectional data, indicated that adults living with minor stepchildren were no more distressed than their childless peers (Evenson Simon, 2005). Future research should consider whether selection processes play a role in that individuals who become stepparents and remain married may be those who feel more open to the parenting role. Given the significant number of adults who stepparent at some point in their lives, it is important to consider how stepchildren affect well-being later in the life course. Evenson and Simon (2005) reported that having nonresidential adult stepchildren was associated with elevated levels of distress, relative to the childless and relative to other parents, but their study is limited by a cross-sectional design. Pudrovska’s (2009) longitudinal analysis showed that having a stepchild does not compromise mental health of middle-aged and older adults and that the psychological implications of stepparenthood do not differ by gender. Whereas women may be more affected by enduring parental strains in young and middle adulthood, the effect of stepparenthood may be similar for mothers and fathers in later life when men’s and women’s parental roles tend to become more similar. At this point, research evidence is mixed, and generalizations cannot be drawn. This heterogeneity points to the importance of context in which the stepparent role unfolds, including characteristics of parents and children as well as the quality of family relationships. Parents who have both stepchildren and their own children may face unique stressors associated with parenting children with different biological relatedness, contributing to greater psychological distress. Moreover, the experience of stepparenthood may depend on timing in the life course–with different effects for those who become stepparents of a young child, an adolescent, or an adult child. Future research should explore how the e.