Stepfamilies in the United States

Cherlin and Furstenberg

Forms of kinship and family

Only 59% of American children live with both biological parents

An additional 11.2% live with one biologicalparent and one stepparent

Building a stepfamily

Research suggests that the adjustment process can take years to complete. One therapist

suggests about seven years

More than a fourth of all remarriages disrupt within five years

During the process of family building, research suggests that it can be harder to be a

stepmother than stepfather

Stepfathers often can fill a vacuum left by the departed biological father. Stepmothers must

inhabit the space already occupied by the biological mother

A critical area of family building is merging economic systems

Most stepparents report that they are happy with their roles and new families

Effects on children

One study found that 8% of children in mother-stepfather households were living below the poverty line; 49% of

children in single-mother households were below that line. Many studies show that the well-being of children in

stepfamily households is no better, on average, than the well-being of children in divorced, single-parent households.

There is conflicting evidence as to whether children of different ages or genders adjust

differently to the arrival of a stepparent. A 1981 national health survey showed few differences by age or gender

One long-term effect

Only one finding is well-established concerning the long-term effects on children of having

lived in a stepfamily household. Children in stepfamily households--particularly girls--leave

home at an earlier age than do children in single-parent or two-parent households

The risk of re-divorce

Recent studies confirm that remarriages are somewhat more likely to end in divorce than

first marriages. After ten years, about 37% of remarriages have dissolved, compared to about

30% of first marriages.