Describes and reports the evaluation of an innovative teaching technique designed as a semester-long exercise in which simulated families, composed of 23 master's students, experience divorce and remarriage. Provides results from quantitative and qualitative analyses which suggest that the technique was successful in sensitizing students to the…

Conceptualizes remarriage and adjustment to stepfamily living as life transition in family stress theory framework. Illustrates through case example use of Double ABCX model and model's strength in providing practitioner with assessment format, guide for interventions, and a basis for policy supporting stepfamilies. (Author/CM)

Uses experience of African-American families to inform European-American postdivorce families, including stepfamilies. Suggests strategies and coping mechanisms that stem from pedi-focal definition of family and are used in African-American families for postdivorce families to aid in their struggles with welfare of dependent children, confusion…

Describes investigation examining relationships between stepparenting styles (model of parenting styles adapted for stepparents, including Authoritarian, Authoritative, Supportive, and Disengaged) and adolescent adjustment. Suggests Disengaged style was associated with lowest and Supportive style was associated with highest levels of adjustment.…

Many states are adopting joint custody legislation to support continued relationships between children of parental divorce and both of their biological parents. This study examined the effects of joint versus maternal legal custody, whether or not the stepfather had biological children from a prior marriage, and the sex and age of an adolescent on…

Although 41 percent of all marriages are remarriages for one or both partners, little is known about the impact of this change in marital status on various aspects of family life. To assess the linkage between the remarriage household and the labor force, the legal system, visitation with non-custodial parents and grandparents. relations between…

Presents a two-tiered developmental guidance classroom unit on parental divorce which acquaints children with the idea of divorce as a family change. Focuses on the needs of the children coping with parental divorce. Discusses results which appear to have a positive effect on child's depression, attitudes and belief about parental divorce and…

No published research has investigated the impact of joint custody on the adjustment of children of divorce who become stepchildren. This research examined the differential effects of joint versus maternal custody, structural complexity (presence or absence of stepfather's children from a prior marriage), and sex and age of adolescent on…

This second chapter in "Elementary School Counseling in a Changing World" covers a variety of topics related to helping children and parents function effectively within changing family situations. Four journal articles are included in the chapter. "A Multimodal Intervention for Group Counseling with Children of Divorce" by Margaret Crosbie-Burnett…

Presents a classroom guidance program for students in elementary, middle, or high school. The program is intended to educate students about nontraditional families, promote positive attitudes toward them, teach decision making and coping skills related to family issues, and show understanding for children of single parent and stepfamilies. (TE)