Couple communication in stepfamilies.
Effective communication is assumed to help sustain couple relationships and is a key focus of most relationship education programs. We assessed couple problem-solving communication in 65 stepfamily and 52 first-time-marrying couples, with each group stratified into high risk and low risk for relationship problems based on family-of-origin experiences. Relative to partners in first-time couples, partners in stepfamily couples were less positive, less negative, and more likely to withdraw from discussion. Risk was associated with communication in first-time but not stepfamily couples. Stepfamily couples do not exhibit the negative communication evident in high-risk first-time-marrying couples, and available relationship education programs that focus on reducing negative communication are unlikely to meet the needs of stepfamilies.
Halford
Kim
K
School of Psychology, M 24 Mt. Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia. K.Halford@Griffith.edu.au
Nicholson
Jan
J
Sanders
Matthew
M
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland; D018454:Spouses; D014481:United States; D014743:Videotape Recording