Family Contributions to the Romantic Relationship Quality of Young Adults from Married Stepfamilies
Open Access
Author:
Washington, Chanell Nicole
Graduate Program:
Sociology
Degree:
Master of Arts
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
February 23, 2017
Committee Members:
Dr. Valarie King, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Dr. Michelle Frisco, Committee Member Dr. Melissa Hardy, Committee Member
Keywords:
romantic relationships young adults stepfamilies
Abstract:
This study uses data from Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine the association between the quality of various family relationships in adolescence (e.g., mother-stepfather, mother-adolescent, stepfather-adolescent, and nonresident biological father-adolescent) and offspring romantic relationship quality in young adulthood for youth in married stepfamilies. A contribution of this study is that youth in married stepfamilies are examined as their own group, rather than being compared to children living with their two married, biological parents. Additionally, this study examines the influence of nonresident biological fathers, which is a relationship that is especially relevant to children in stepfamilies. This study finds that the quality of the mother-stepfather and mother-adolescent relationships are positively associated with offspring romantic relationship quality in young adulthood.
