Caught in the middle

Mothers in stepfamilies

Bibliographic Data

ID2936320
AuthorsShannon E Weaver (0000-0002-9456-4573, University of Connecticut, corresponding author), Marilyn Coleman (0000-0001-5873-6318, University of Missouri)
Year2010
Volume27
Issue3
Pages305-326
Publication date2010-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407510361729
OpenAlexW2139441072
LanguageEN
Citations received46
References cited42

This article presents a grounded theory investigation of the roles women fulfill as mothers in stepfamilies. A key role for these 24 mothers was serving as the link between the stepfather (her husband) and her children. When conflicts arose between children and stepfathers, mothers' loyalties lay with their children, and they engaged in protective behavior manifested in four ways: defender, gatekeeper, mediator, and interpreter. Influences on these roles include (i) expectations for and perceptions of her family, (ii) her partner's experiences with families and children, (iii) structural characteristics of stepfamilies, and (iv) beliefs about children's needs. The performance of protective mother roles has important implications for the integration and development of the stepfamily, familial roles for family members, and women's general well-being

Developmental psychology · Grounded theory · Interpreter · Perception · Qualitative research · Sociology · Stepfamily · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology · Social Psychology

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