1. Sibling Relationships in Nuclear Families, Divorced Families, and Remarried Families.
- Author
-
Diderich-Balsam, Monique C.
- Subjects
SIBLINGS ,NUCLEAR families ,STEPFAMILIES ,MODERN society ,SOLIDARITY - Abstract
Abstract The remarried family (also known as blended, bi-nuclear, and reconstituted family) is projected to become the dominant family form in the United States by the year 2010. However, contemporary society provides few guidelines for organizing families in remarried kinship systems. Uncertainty about who is part of the new remarried family and who is not is characterized as the “unclear family”. Scholars suggest that the high divorce rate in remarriages can be attributed to problems with sibling relationships in the remarried household. Yet with a few exceptions, there is a lack of research regarding sibling solidarity in remarried families. Remarried families originally start as an intact or nuclear family. Siblings, who are now in blended sibling groups, at one time for a number of years, grew up in a traditional nuclear family constellation. Four middle range theories (attachment theory, family systems theory, rational choice, and evolutionary theory) and their applicability to sibling relationships in traditional nuclear families, divorced families and remarried families are examined. Lastly, the paper addresses current empirical research -drawing on solidarity concepts developed by Bengtson and Silverstein- where the focus is on solidarity within blended sibling groups (full siblings, half siblings and stepsiblings) in remarried families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005