Disagreement in perceptions of stepfamily communication and functioning: Implications for mental health

Abstract

This study tested the degree to which disagreement in perceptions of stepfamily communication and functioning is associated with the mental health of family members. Participants included 119 stepfamily triads from two different regions of the United States. Results indicate that stepfamily dissension and avoidance are inversely associated with the mental health of family members, whereas stepfamily involvement, flexibility, and expressiveness are positively associated with mental health. Disagreement in family members’ perceptions of stepfamily dissension is negatively associated with the mental health of both adults, whereas disagreement in perceptions of stepfamily involvement is inversely associated with the mental health of stepchildren. The results extend efforts to identify communication behaviors that differentiate strong stepfamilies from those struggling with the developmental process.