PSYCHO-SOCIAL FACTORS IN STEPPARENT-STEPCHILD RELATIONSHIPS IN NIGERIA

Stepfamilies face challenges, tasks, and crises that are unique and different from the conventional life cycle of biological families. Unfortunately such families have been subjected to the norms and expectations based on traditional nuclear families. This study, therefore, examined relationships among psycho-social factors and the quality of the stepchild and stepparent relationships in selected families in two states of Nigeria. The research adopted ex-post-facto design. The multi-stage sampling technique was used in the selection of 400 stepfamilies (with a total of 1000 participants).Three validated and structured questionnaires namely: Stepparent and Stepchild Relationship Quality Questionnaire (SPSCRQQ), Stepparent and Stepchild Relationship Questionnaire(SPSCRQ)- Stepchild Specific; and Stepparent and Stepchild Relationship Questionnaire (SPSCRQ) - Stepparent Specific, were used to collect data for the study. The resuls indicated that loyalty conflict, relationship with non-residential kin, communication, age of child at the time of remarriage, martial relationship and parenting style were pridictors of the quality of the stepparent and stepchild relationship in Nigeria.

Autorentext

Dr Grace I. Onongha earned a doctorate degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 2005. This is after she had obtained both bachelor and master's degrees in the same discipline from the same university. She is at present a lecturer at Osun State University and has published in renowned journals in her field.