Stepchildren’s Communicative and Emotional Journey from Divorce to Remarriage: Predictors of Stepfamily Satisfaction |
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Authors: | Sandra M Metts Paul Schrodt Dawn O Braithwaite |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Communication, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA;2. Department of Communication Studies, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA;3. Department of Communication Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA |
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Abstract: | This study explores the emotional and communicative profiles of young adults who have experienced a parental divorce and the emergence of a stepfamily to better understand influences on stepfamily satisfaction. Results of regression analyses indicate that strong negative emotions experienced at the time of the divorce are a negative predictor of current stepfamily satisfaction, even after controlling for age at the time of the divorce. In addition, level of open self-disclosure to a stepparent, although not parents, is a positive predictor of current stepfamily satisfaction. Finally, the extent to which the father has now fully explained the circumstances of the divorce is a positive predictor of current stepfamily satisfaction, whereas the extent to which mother has now fully explained the circumstances of the divorce is a negative predictor of current stepfamily satisfaction. These findings are discussed and future directions for research on stepfamily interaction and satisfaction are offered. |
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Keywords: | Divorce emotion expression self-disclosure stepchildren stepfamilies stepparents |
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