TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiences of Adolescent Stepchildren in the Stepfamily Context in Ghana
T2 - A Qualitative Exploratory Study
AU - Ayittey, Rhoda Emefa
AU - Salifu Yendork, Joana
AU - Oti-Boadi, Mabel
AU - Oppong Asante, Kwaku
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Globally, family systems are being diversified as most children are no longer living with their biological parents due to divorce, remarriage, separation and unmarried personhood leading to a rise in stepfamilies. Despite the rise of stepfamilies in the sub-Saharan African countries, they have been largely under-studied, especially among the adolescent population. This study explored the nature of experiences and their determining factors as well as impact on adolescent stepchildren in the Ghanaian context. A purposive sample of 22 adolescents who were living or had lived in a stepfamily household in the Koforidua Metropolis of Ghana were interviewed; and their responses analyzed thematically. Findings show that stepchildren had both pleasant and unpleasant experiences which had psychological, social and academic implications to their wellbeing. Precipitating factors bothered on stepchildren’s conduct, lack of blood ties between stepchildren and stepfamilies and lack of prospective benefits to stepparents. These findings underscore the need for psychological interventions for adolescents within the stepfamily context to help address the unpleasant experiences that may negatively impact on their social and psychological wellbeing.
AB - Globally, family systems are being diversified as most children are no longer living with their biological parents due to divorce, remarriage, separation and unmarried personhood leading to a rise in stepfamilies. Despite the rise of stepfamilies in the sub-Saharan African countries, they have been largely under-studied, especially among the adolescent population. This study explored the nature of experiences and their determining factors as well as impact on adolescent stepchildren in the Ghanaian context. A purposive sample of 22 adolescents who were living or had lived in a stepfamily household in the Koforidua Metropolis of Ghana were interviewed; and their responses analyzed thematically. Findings show that stepchildren had both pleasant and unpleasant experiences which had psychological, social and academic implications to their wellbeing. Precipitating factors bothered on stepchildren’s conduct, lack of blood ties between stepchildren and stepfamilies and lack of prospective benefits to stepparents. These findings underscore the need for psychological interventions for adolescents within the stepfamily context to help address the unpleasant experiences that may negatively impact on their social and psychological wellbeing.
KW - Stepfamily
KW - adolescent stepchildren
KW - experiences
KW - precipitating factors
KW - stepparent
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135267855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10502556.2022.2106814
DO - 10.1080/10502556.2022.2106814
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85135267855
SN - 1050-2556
VL - 63
SP - 422
EP - 440
JO - Journal of Divorce and Remarriage
JF - Journal of Divorce and Remarriage
IS - 6
ER -