STEPFAMILIES IN THE UNITED-STATES - A RECONSIDERATION

This paper discusses five themes related to the formation and function ing of stepfamilies. The first section examines how demographic trends , particularly changing marriage and remarriage rates and rising level s of cohabitation, are affecting post-marital family arrangements. The second section looks at the creation of new forms of kinship associat ed with remarriage and cohabitation. The third and fourth parts of the paper explore issues related to the social organization of stepfamili es and the consequences for children. The final section of the paper t akes up the question of whether and why remarried persons are at highe r risk of divorce. We discuss some implications of research for public policy and current theoretical debates about the status of the Americ an family.