INFLUENCES ON THE QUALITY OF THE STEPMOTHER ADOLESCENT RELATIONSHIP

This study identified the extent to which selected descriptors of rela tionship formation were related to the quality of the stepmother-adole scent relationship as perceived by both the stepmother and the adolesc ent stepchild. The reputational sample consisted of 50 stepfamilies wh o completed questionnaires in their homes. Correlational analysis indi cated four significant predictors of relationship quality: the adolesc ent's perception of family's ability to acquire social support, the ad olescent's perception of family's ability to reframe family problems, frequency of agreement between the stepmother and the father on how to raise the child, and stepmothers' satisfaction with the remarriage. A discussion of these findings are presented along with recommendations for intervention and policy formation.