Effective parenting in stepfamilies: Empirical evidence of what works

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine research evidence about effective childrearing in stepfamilies (i.e., parenting practices that contribute to children's physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being). Background: Stepfamilies are increasingly common. Studies show that children in stepfamilies tend to be at higher risk for negative outcomes than children in first-married biological-parent families. As research on stepfamilies has expanded, researchers have made strides in identifying parenting practices that promote positive outcomes for children in stepfamilies. Method: We reviewed 37 studies that contained empirical evidence of effective parenting by biological or adoptive parents of children in stepfamilies. Results: Researchers have identified numerous actions employed by parents that are linked to children's positive outcomes. Effective parenting practices fall broadly into five domains: (a) maintaining close parent–child bonds, (b) establishing appropriate parent–child communication boundaries, (c) exercising parental control, (d) supporting stepparent–stepchild relationship development, and (e) facilitating stepfamily cohesion. Conclusions: Effective childrearing in stepfamilies involves carefully managing competing family needs, such as the need to balance shared family time with one-on-one parent–child time or the need to establish open parent–child communication boundaries in some areas but closed boundaries in others. Implications: Parents have available to them a number of empirically supported action items linked to child well-being in stepfamilies.