SOCIAL SUPPORT RECEIVED BY CHILDREN IN STEPMOTHER, STEPFATHER, AND INTACT FAMILIES

This study compared the (step)mother-(step)child relationship among co llege students using social support concepts in three family types: st epmother, stepfather, and intact. As predicted, when compared to the r elationship between children and their biological mothers in other fam ily types, children in stepmother families perceived less relationship quality, less support and more conflict with their stepmother. Howeve r, children in stepmother families did not perceive more overall famil y conflict or less family cohesion than children in the other family t ypes. Similarly, children in the stepmother families were no less sati sfied with the overall social support they received from their entire social network than children in the other family types.