Lh. Ganong et M. Coleman, A METAANALYTIC COMPARISON OF THE SELF-ESTEEM AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OFSTEPCHILDREN TO CHILDREN IN OTHER FAMILY STRUCTURES, Journal of divorce & remarriage, 19(3-4), 1993, pp. 143-163
A meta-analysis was based on published studies that compared the self-
esteem or behavior problems of stepchildren to children in nuclear and
single-parent households. Twenty-four studies produced 57 effect size
s. Results showed generalizable differences in self-esteem between chi
ldren in stepfamilies and nuclear families but not between stepchildre
n and children in single-parent households. Stepchildren's internalizi
ng and externalizing behaviors were slightly greater than nuclear fami
ly children, but not single-parent family children. Discussion focused
on the interpretation of these results within the limitations of the
designs employed in the studies.