Deck 9: Stress and Resilience in Stepfamilies Today

Question 1

Under what conditions are the majority of stepfamilies formed?

A) cohabitation without remarriage
B) by single parents with the primary goal of coparenting
C) remarriage after death
D) following a divorce

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Where are estimates of the prevalence of stepfamilies drawn from?

A) sociologists
B) clinical samples
C) stepfamily groups/programs
D) national surveys

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Why are estimates of the prevalence of stepfamilies underreported?

A) There is a stigma associated with being in a stepfamily.
B) Some members of the stepfamily are not counted.
C) Multiple divorces distort the statistics.
D) Estimates are based on tax filing.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What is a hybrid stepfamily?

A) when the nonbiological parent legally adopts their partner's child
B) a type of stepfamily that involves fostering children
C) this type of stepfamily is characterized by the presence of at least one sibling who is the biological child of both parents
D) when biological siblings live with separate custodial parents

Question 5

Of the children who live with a stepparent, the majority are ______.

A) toddlers
B) infants
C) between the ages of 6 and 14
D) above the age of 15

Question 6

Which theoretical approach considers families as complex systems?

A) complex development theory
B) multisystemic theory
C) family systems theory
D) strain theory

Question 7

______ is a source of stress unique to stepfamilies.

A) Financial concerns
B) Parental conflict
C) Reduced clarity regarding member roles and family boundaries
D) Everyday hassles

Question 8

Because basic patterns of family interactions get interrupted in stepfamilies, it is important to ______.

A) hide changes in the family system from children
B) focus on the children and enroll them in extracurricular activities
C) treat each family member in the same
D) negotiate new expectations, roles, rules, and traditions

Question 9

Faith and Helena just got married. They both bring children from previous partnerships to the family. Helena tried to tell Faith's daughter that her curfew had changed, and Faith's daughter laughed at her. Neither one is clear about their new roles and responsibilities. What term describes this situation?

A) transitional responsibility
B) external role confusion
C) internal boundary ambiguity
D) family diffusion

Question 10

Compared to parenting biological children, stepparenting lacks clear guidelines or social norms, and many stepparents at least initially experience ambivalence at the family level. This results in ______.

A) internal boundary confusion
B) role ambiguity
C) diffusion of responsibility
D) trajectory adjustment

Question 11

Stepparents belong in two distinct subsystems: ______.

A) couple and coparent subsystems
B) family and adult subsystem
C) biofamily and stepfamily subsystem
D) male and female subsystem

Question 12

Juggling the relationships with the stepchildren and the new partner is most closely associated with stress in the ______.

A) couple subsystem
B) sibling subsystem
C) mental health subsystem
D) external subsystem

Question 13

Evidence shows that when stepcouples are unable to come to an agreement or gain clarity regarding the stepparent's role, stepparent well-being suffers. This is most closely associated with the ______

A) couple subsystem
B) stepfamily subsystem
C) coparenting subsystem
D) parent-child subsystem

Question 14

A ______ is a situation where one family member feels torn between the competing wants and needs of two or more family members.

A) double bind
B) no-win situation
C) loyalty bind
D) family conflict

Question 15

When a mother sees a stepparent's interactions with her child as an attack, she is acting as a(n) ______.

A) mediator
B) interpreter
C) gatekeeper
D) defender

Question 16

Gloria interrupts her partner when she is planning a lunch date with Gloria's daughter, Brie. Gloria is being a(n) ______.

A) gatekeeper
B) defender
C) interpreter
D) mediator

Question 17

Tom, the stepparent, and Brianna, the stepchild, are arguing about doing the dishes again. Luisa steps in and tries to help Tom and Brianna negotiate a fair outcome. This is an example of Luisa being a(n) ______.

A) gatekeeper
B) defender
C) interpreter
D) mediator

Question 18

The most common source of conflict in stepfamilies is ______.

A) financial well-being
B) child-rearing
C) where to live
D) a previous relationship

Question 19

Rachel and Omar have been a stepfamily for 6 months and have good days and bad days. They are not concerned by this because they know that becoming a family is a process. They are looking forward to a bright future for their new family. This best exemplifies ______.

A) clear roles and boundaries
B) flexibility
C) realistic and positive expectations
D) strong social supports

Question 20

Flexibility, bonding, and relationship building; open and clear communication; and empathy are considered ______.

A) the end goals of divorce mediation
B) characteristics of resiliency in stepfamilies that support family well-being
C) characteristics important for the sibling subsystem to negotiate with the stepparents
D) unrealistic goals for stepfamilies within the first 3 years of residing together

Question 21

Why might children experience a renewed sense of loss when their parent begins dating after a divorce?

A) They will soon have to live with a stepparent.
B) It is another sign their parents will not reunite.
C) Children worry about future abandonment.
D) They will receive even less attention.

Question 22

When psychoeducation programs are not enough, individuals and families should be referred to ______.

A) inpatient treatment
B) mental health therapy
C) divorce court
D) juvenile probation

Question 23

Which subsystem is the most fragile?

A) stepparent-stepchild
B) parent-child
C) stepcouples who are coparenting
D) stress in the couple

Question 24

Which characteristic of a resilient family identified in the text is illustrated by the ability to renegotiate family boundaries to accept new members and develop relationships?

A) realistic and positive expectations
B) clear roles and boundaries
C) open, clear communication and empathy
D) flexibility

Question 25

Browning and Artelt's (2012) model identifies steps for stepfamily therapy organized into three phases. What are the three phases in this model?

A) diagnostic steps; primary clinical interventions; stepfamily integration
B) primary diagnostic intervention; secondary psychoeducational programs; coparenting
C) family focus; remarriage; stepfamily
D) parent-child; stepparent-stepchild; stepcouple-coparenting

Question 26

Stepchildren are less likely to live in poverty than children living with two biological parents, whether married or cohabiting.

Question 27

One of the greatest sources of stress in stepfamilies is related to finances.

Question 28

One of the reasons that the relationship between the divorced parent and his or her child is stressful is because when the parent begins dating, the child may lose hope that his or her biological parents will get back together.

Question 29

Dwayne has recently taken on the role of Fiona's stepparent. Fiona does everything in her power to make Dwayne feel like an outsider. Dwayne should set more limits with Fiona and take on the role of a disciplinarian.

Question 30

Younger children are more accepting of a stepparent than are older children.

Question 31

Because 50/50 custody is common, most often, children spend equal time between households.

Question 32

It is very common for stepfamilies to successfully manage the transition to a unified family system.

Question 33

In terms of clinical strategies for working with stepfamilies, it has been found that strategies developed for biological, two-parent families are appropriate and have been effective.

Question 34

Supportive coparenting relationships across households increase a stepchild's sense of being torn between competing loyalties to biological parents.

Question 35

Of the primary subsystems in stepfamilies, the coparenting subsystem is perhaps the least understood.

Question 36

Discuss the unique stressors associated with living in a stepfamily. Identify at least three areas of stress and discuss each thoroughly using information from the chapter.

Question 37

Describe issues associated with stepparenting in terms of the relationship between the stepcouple.

Question 38

There are seven factors associated with stepfamily resilience. Please identify at least five factors and explain why they contribute to resilience.

Question 39

Outline the family systems approach to understanding stepfamilies.

Question 40

Summarize how Adler-Baeder et al.'s psychoeducation/relationship education model reduces stress and increases stepfamily resilience.