title: Predicting married and cohabiting couples' futures from their descriptions of stepfamily life.
abstract: Stepfamily couples experience specific challenges early in their relationships, (e.g., reaching agreement on the role of the stepparent in parenting). The Oral History Interview for Stepfamilies (OHI-S) was developed to assess spouses' cognitive representations of their adaptation to these challenges. It was hypothesized that their responses would predict future relationship satisfaction and stability. One-hundred and 22 stepfamily couples completed the OHI-S and were assessed on relationship satisfaction and stability at Time 1 and 2.5 years later (Time 2). Time 2 relationship satisfaction and stability were both predicted by the OHI-S at Time 1. Couples' perceptions of the stepfamily and couple relationship predict separation, and suggest there is an opportunity for early intervention to enhance stepfamily couple relationships.
authors: School of Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Maddy E
authors: ME
authors: Slattery
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Bruce
authors: W Kim
authors: WK
authors: Halford
authors: Jan M
authors: JM
authors: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011581:Psychological Tests; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*