Stepfamilies: myths and realities

Doris S. Jacobson, Ph.D., is Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles. Portions of an earlier version of this article were presented at a pro fessional symposium entitled "Under standing the Stepfamily: A Growing Challenge of the 70s," held at Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center/Los Angeles Psychiatric Ser vice, Los Angeles, California, June 30, 1977. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS The number of stepfamilies in the comments of participants will be in United States has sharply increased eluded throughout the article. Last, in recent years. It has in fact been the author will examine the implica estimated that approximately 10 pertions for mental health and social cent of the 66 million children in this service professionals of the material country under 18 are living as steppresented, children with a stepparent.1 Although the stepfamily is not a new phenome non, a quantitative increase and a qualitative change has taken place reIn discussing general considerations garding stepfamilies. In the past, the concerning the stepfamily, the author death of a spouse was the main reason will focus on what she refers to as why stepfamilies were formed. Today, the "three Ds": denial, denigration, the primary reasons are the high rate and disorientation. Denial here refers of divorce, the increasing number of to the way people in this society deal children affected by divorce, and the with stepfamilies, which is to avoid high rate at which people remarry.2 contact with or discussion about them; Both this increase in numbers and when this is impossible, attempts are qualitative change are recent, and not made to deny the stepfamily's unique much attention has been directed yet characteristics. In regard to denial, the toward stepfamilies. Only limited litfollowing questions arise: Why have erature is available in this area, and stepfamilies not received their share the nature of the stepfamily and the of attention, and why have they not factors affecting its functioning for found or made contact with each good or ill have just begun to be the other? focus of attention of behavioral and As already indicated, in the past social scientists.3 Within the past two the death of a spouse was the most years, the number of publications adfrequent situation that led to the for dressed directly to stepparents has inmation of a stepfamily; that is, some creased, indicating that a need for one had to die first. Although this is guidelines is felt by this group.4 In reoften still the case, the formation of a gard to services, moreover, commustepfamily is in most instances nowa nity agencies have to date offered few days preceded by a divorce. However, services specifically for stepfamilies. those who have not been touched by In addition, self-help groups, in which the death of a spouse or the death of people in similar life situations disa marriage in their marital situation cuss common problems and ways of are still in the majority in this coun coping with them have thus far played try. It is conceivable that for them, a limited role in the lives of stepparthe idea of a stepfamily is associated ents and stepchildren. Stepfamilies in with death, the death of a person or general have not made contact with 0f a marriage. These are unpleasant each other and experienced the kind subjects, and people frequently wish of comfort and support that comes to avoid discussing subjects that are from discussing one's situation with unpleasant. One way for them to do others in the same circumstances. For this is to avoid individuals who are