Childrearing in stepfamilies: Empirical answers about “what works”

• Published date: 01 July 2022
• Author: Lawrence Ganong,Marilyn Coleman,Caroline Sanner,Steven Berkley
• Date: 01 July 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12634

RESEARCH

Childrearing in stepfamilies: Empirical answers about

“what works”

Lawrence Ganong

1

|Marilyn Coleman

1

|Caroline Sanner

2

|

Steven Berkley

3

1

Department of Human Development and

Family Science, University of Missouri–

Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, United States

2

Department of Human Development and

Family Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg,

Virginia, United States

3

Department of Psychological Sciences,

University of San Diego, San Diego,

California, United States

Correspondence

Lawrence Ganong, Human Development and

Family Science, University of Missouri–

Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.

Email: ganongl@missouri.edu

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this project were to (a) examine

research evidence on effective childrearing in stepfamilies,

(b) draw “best practice”guidelines for effective childrearing

in stepfamilies, and (c) identify gaps in what is known about

effective childrearing in stepfamilies. Effective childrearing

was defined as cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors of step-

parents and biological parents that contributed positively to

children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.

Background: The predominant focus of research on step-

families has been on investigating stepfamily deficits, prob-

lems, and challenges. Recently, more researchers have

examined stepfamilies from a resilience perspective in

which emphases are placed on processes that contribute to

effective development and adaptations to change.

Method: We reviewed 119 studies of effective childrearing

in stepfamilies. We examined three bodies of literature:

(a) effective parenting in stepfamilies, (b) effective stepparent-

ing in stepfamilies, and (c) effective coparenting in stepfam-

ilies (both within stepfamily households, e.g., between spouses

and across stepfamily households, e.g., between ex-spouses).

Results: The results of this project are reported in three

articles in this collection. We extract evidence-based prin-

ciples of effective childrearing in stepfamilies.

Conclusions: Researchers have made great strides in identify-

ing parenting practices that promote positive outcomes for chil-

dren in stepfamilies, although gaps in our knowledge remain.

Implications: In each article, we offer empirically supported

suggestions for stepfamily members and for family profes-

sionals who work with them.

KEYWORDS

childrearing, coparenting, resilience, stepfamilies, stepparents

Received: 21 January 2021Revised: 17 August 2021Accepted: 23 August 2021

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12634

© 2021 National Council on Family Relations.

876 Family Relations. 2022;71:876–883.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare