Booth, Alan; Dunn, Judy; Dunn, Judith F.

"...an important contribution to the stepfamily literature ...replete with suggestions for further research with stepfamilies."—Journal of Marriage and the Family"...the reader benefits not only from a thorough review or presentation of original research but also from several other researchers' thoughtful discussion, elaboration, and sometimes dissent from the perspective of the lead scientist....This book is tailor-made for those wishing to come up to speed rapidly in a growing area of research. The individual research chapters will reward the time spent digesting them; the discussion chapters are sufficient to acquaint the newcomer with at least some of the major issues or research controversies in the area; and the chapter bibliographies are a good next step for further grounding."—Contemporary Psychology

• Contents: Preface. Part I: Marriages That Create Stepfamilies--Why Do They Occur? Fail? Succeed?D. Popenoe, The Evolution of Marriage and the Problem of Stepfamilies: A Biosocial Perspective. M. Coleman, Stepfamilies in the United States: Challenging Biased Assumptions. L.A. Kurdek, Remarriages and Stepfamilies Are Not Inherently Problematic. N.D. Glenn, Biology, Evolutionary Theory, and Family Social Science. Part II: How Do Stepfamilies Function as Childrearing Organizations?E.M. Hetherington, K.M. Jodl, Stepfamilies as Settings for Child Development. P.R. Amato, The Implications of Research Findings on Children in Stepfamilies. E. Thomson, "Settings" and "Development" From a Demographic Point of View. N. Zill, Understanding Why Children in Stepfamilies Have More Learning and Behavior Problems Than Children in Nuclear Families. Part III: How Do Stepfamilies Function as Sources of Support?L. White, Stepfamilies Over the Life Course: Social Support. T.M. Cooney, Conceptual and Methodological Issues in the Study of Stepfamilies Over the Life Course. D.P. Hogan, Stepfamilies: Selectivity of High-Risk Persons or Risk State? J.A. Seltzer, Intergenerational Ties in Adulthood and Childhood Experience. Part IV: Building Research and Policy Agendas--What Is Needed?J. Brooks-Gunn, Research on Stepparenting Families: Integrating Disciplinary Approaches and Informing Policy. M.M. Mahoney, Reformulating the Legal Definition of the Stepparent-Child Relationship. M.A. Fine, Social Policy Pertaining to Stepfamilies: Should Stepparents and Stepchildren Have the Option of Establishing a Legal Relationship? P.L. Chase-Lansdale, Policies for Stepfamilies: Crosswalking Private and Public Domains. J. Dunn, A. Booth, Stepfamilies: An Overview.

Booth, Alan; Dunn, Judy; Dunn, Judith F.

"...an important contribution to the stepfamily literature ...replete with suggestions for further research with stepfamilies."—Journal of Marriage and the Family"...the reader benefits not only from a thorough review or presentation of original research but also from several other researchers' thoughtful discussion, elaboration, and sometimes dissent from the perspective of the lead scientist....This book is tailor-made for those wishing to come up to speed rapidly in a growing area of research. The individual research chapters will reward the time spent digesting them; the discussion chapters are sufficient to acquaint the newcomer with at least some of the major issues or research controversies in the area; and the chapter bibliographies are a good next step for further grounding."—Contemporary Psychology

• Contents: Preface. Part I: Marriages That Create Stepfamilies--Why Do They Occur? Fail? Succeed?D. Popenoe, The Evolution of Marriage and the Problem of Stepfamilies: A Biosocial Perspective. M. Coleman, Stepfamilies in the United States: Challenging Biased Assumptions. L.A. Kurdek, Remarriages and Stepfamilies Are Not Inherently Problematic. N.D. Glenn, Biology, Evolutionary Theory, and Family Social Science. Part II: How Do Stepfamilies Function as Childrearing Organizations?E.M. Hetherington, K.M. Jodl, Stepfamilies as Settings for Child Development. P.R. Amato, The Implications of Research Findings on Children in Stepfamilies. E. Thomson, "Settings" and "Development" From a Demographic Point of View. N. Zill, Understanding Why Children in Stepfamilies Have More Learning and Behavior Problems Than Children in Nuclear Families. Part III: How Do Stepfamilies Function as Sources of Support?L. White, Stepfamilies Over the Life Course: Social Support. T.M. Cooney, Conceptual and Methodological Issues in the Study of Stepfamilies Over the Life Course. D.P. Hogan, Stepfamilies: Selectivity of High-Risk Persons or Risk State? J.A. Seltzer, Intergenerational Ties in Adulthood and Childhood Experience. Part IV: Building Research and Policy Agendas--What Is Needed?J. Brooks-Gunn, Research on Stepparenting Families: Integrating Disciplinary Approaches and Informing Policy. M.M. Mahoney, Reformulating the Legal Definition of the Stepparent-Child Relationship. M.A. Fine, Social Policy Pertaining to Stepfamilies: Should Stepparents and Stepchildren Have the Option of Establishing a Legal Relationship? P.L. Chase-Lansdale, Policies for Stepfamilies: Crosswalking Private and Public Domains. J. Dunn, A. Booth, Stepfamilies: An Overview.

Booth, Alan; Dunn, Judy; Dunn, Judith F.

"...an important contribution to the stepfamily literature ...replete with suggestions for further research with stepfamilies."—Journal of Marriage and the Family"...the reader benefits not only from a thorough review or presentation of original research but also from several other researchers' thoughtful discussion, elaboration, and sometimes dissent from the perspective of the lead scientist....This book is tailor-made for those wishing to come up to speed rapidly in a growing area of research. The individual research chapters will reward the time spent digesting them; the discussion chapters are sufficient to acquaint the newcomer with at least some of the major issues or research controversies in the area; and the chapter bibliographies are a good next step for further grounding."—Contemporary Psychology

• Contents: Preface. Part I: Marriages That Create Stepfamilies--Why Do They Occur? Fail? Succeed?D. Popenoe, The Evolution of Marriage and the Problem of Stepfamilies: A Biosocial Perspective. M. Coleman, Stepfamilies in the United States: Challenging Biased Assumptions. L.A. Kurdek, Remarriages and Stepfamilies Are Not Inherently Problematic. N.D. Glenn, Biology, Evolutionary Theory, and Family Social Science. Part II: How Do Stepfamilies Function as Childrearing Organizations?E.M. Hetherington, K.M. Jodl, Stepfamilies as Settings for Child Development. P.R. Amato, The Implications of Research Findings on Children in Stepfamilies. E. Thomson, "Settings" and "Development" From a Demographic Point of View. N. Zill, Understanding Why Children in Stepfamilies Have More Learning and Behavior Problems Than Children in Nuclear Families. Part III: How Do Stepfamilies Function as Sources of Support?L. White, Stepfamilies Over the Life Course: Social Support. T.M. Cooney, Conceptual and Methodological Issues in the Study of Stepfamilies Over the Life Course. D.P. Hogan, Stepfamilies: Selectivity of High-Risk Persons or Risk State? J.A. Seltzer, Intergenerational Ties in Adulthood and Childhood Experience. Part IV: Building Research and Policy Agendas--What Is Needed?J. Brooks-Gunn, Research on Stepparenting Families: Integrating Disciplinary Approaches and Informing Policy. M.M. Mahoney, Reformulating the Legal Definition of the Stepparent-Child Relationship. M.A. Fine, Social Policy Pertaining to Stepfamilies: Should Stepparents and Stepchildren Have the Option of Establishing a Legal Relationship? P.L. Chase-Lansdale, Policies for Stepfamilies: Crosswalking Private and Public Domains. J. Dunn, A. Booth, Stepfamilies: An Overview.