Stepfamily Roles, Relationships, and Dynamics: A Review of Stepfamily Typologies

Typologies allow researchers and clinicians to look efficiently across studies and draw conclusions about commonalities and differences related to populations of interest. Typologies also are useful in developing and testing theories. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of 34 typologies related to stepfamilies and stepfamily relationships. The 34 reviewed typologies were developed based on empirical evidence and contained 127 unique stepfamily or relational types. They were created in 10 countries over 33 years with samples varying widely in size (11 to 1,934) and family position (i.e., stepchildren, parents, and stepparents). Data were gathered in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method designs. From these typologies we identified five general content areas: (1) perceptions of family membership, (2) stepfamily organization, (3) stepparent roles, (4) stepfamily communication and cohesion, and (5) dyadic relationship quality. Despite variability of methods, contexts, and foci, analyses revealed consistencies in relational dynamics and family processes across content areas. That is, individuals define and perceive their own and other’s family roles in specific ways that reflect distinct world views about their families, and they interact and communicate with each other in ways that reflect those family world views. These typologies show that stepfamily members interact within a limited range of family paradigms: (1) nuclear family models, (2) stepfamily models, and (3) reductive/rejection models. Implications for research and practice are discussed.