Conflicts in Stepfamily Communication
Final Literature Review (100 points, approximately 5-6 pages):
Your final literature review will be an expansion of your abbreviated literature review, consisting of at least 5 total sources (the two from your abbreviated literature review may be used in this count unless instructed otherwise by your professor). First, fix any mistakes noted by your professor on your abbreviated literature review. Then, expand it by integrating at least three additional sources. Two of the new sources must be ACADEMIC SOURCES. One source may be from a credible popular press source (e.g., Advertising Age, Communication World, Broadcasting and Cable, PR WEEK). The conclusion of your Final Literature Review should make an argument for future research in the area (your professor will discuss this in detail as the semester gets underway). The App can be used, but does not count as one of your 5 sources. Remember: when discussing the content of primary research studies, you should address (at the very least) the purpose of the study, its method, and its key findings. This goes for ALL primary sources used in your literature review.
Conflicts in Stepfamily Communication
The increase in the incidence of divorce has resulted in the alterations of family patterns and a significant contributor to the increase of step-families. However, developing a steady relationship in a step-family unit in some cases is a hassle as each member experience some loss and subjected to unfamiliar family adjustments. In the formation of a step-family, the members of the units do not share commonalities. They will need time to adjust to the new relationship, develop new skills, acknowledge their differences, foster, nurture, and maintain new relationships. In this type of setup, conflicts are inevitable as each member has different viewpoints or beliefs that could misunderstand and miscommunicate and, in other cases, subsequent arguments (Pasley, 2017).
Currently, at least one in ten people belong to step-families, according to research. Step-families are becoming a norm today. The success of the step-family units is highly dependent on the effective communication between the members of the unit; however, more success is supported by the family member with intimate or biological relation to the other members, be it the parent or the child. Several research types focus on the complexities encountered in spent family unity more son on the communication aspect (Ganong, 2019). Additionally, by understating the conflict resolution, discipline, and communication skills imperative in establishing family loyalty and unity. In blended families, the negation of complex issues is inevitable; the need to manage conflicts between step-parents understanding each member of the unit’s role and the negotiation of their unfamiliar roles can be a source of conflict.
Numerous research seeks to describe the complex dynamics and configurations of step-families and the communication perspective. This is expressed through the construction of messages, language, and symbols. According to a survey to study issues affecting step-families, it is ascertained that step-families, Unlike the traditional family, set up, suffer an array of issues as a result of lack of communication (Pasley, 2017). As a result of this, there is increased rivalry among the step-family members due to differences in ideologies. As evidenced in most research studies, disagreements and conflicts are quickly resolved through effective communication of members in the family unit. However, resolving these conflicts and communication breakdowns can be highly stressful for both children and parents, especially where there is a lack of collaboration and ineffective listening skills.
According to the qualitative study conducted by Pace et al. (2015) to establish communication in fostering the quality of relationships in a blended family, The research determines that most communication issues result from irregularities-based step parents’ latent responsibilities with their children. This irregularity accounts for the fights and clauses in almost all blended families. However, these complexities differ from one family to the next though most of them are attributed to the lack of communication. Another aspect sets in when the guardian tried to determine ways of instilling and maintaining discipline within the unit without causing unnecessary anguish and rebellion from the children.
With family diversions, children who grow within a toxic and abusive environment tend to continue the cycle even when they grow. This has since compelled marriage and family specialists to seek and identify the issues faced by blended convention families. So they tailor solutions to meet the requirement of each different step-family. In most blended step-families, there is always some competition between biological marital relationships and parent-child relationships, and in most cases, the parent -biological child relationship often wins. This causes some stress and couples the unit apart (Pylyser, 2018). moreover, another cause of conflict in step-families is the time spent by the biological parents with their children that cause competition and stress the couple’s relationship with each other. Resentment of either relationship’s closeness is another cause of strains that could quickly spur the child’s triangulation, resulting in the distress of the couples leading to buffer.
With further studies by Pace et al. (2015), the tied to examine communication effectiveness in blended families. To sought this, he adopted the multi-ethnography approach. The approach led to examining three independent step-families whereby the researchers identify that the varying attributes of inconsistencies in communication are due to the step parents’ issues within the united. Additionally, they also determined that the blended families’ step-parent issues are liked to negative stability and dissatisfaction; however, the two issues could quickly be resolved through conversations. Furthermore, issues such as inconsistencies in conflict resolution, the ambiguity of parenting roles and disrespected boundaries are a significant factor that contributes to communication breakdowns (Pace, 2015).
To resolve this, step-families ought to improve their ordinary talks, more transparency, be involved in family critical thinking, convey clear principles, and advance positivity towards non-custodial parenting coupled with more consistency in insights when dealing with pertinent issues affecting the family. Notably, parenting classes and communication rehearsal can help families improve their interactions and enhance their relationships. Many stepchildren, particularly in their youth stag place immense stress and accentuations over whether their step-parents have a lant of function role in their lives and, in most cases, loathe their step-parents for feeling there are inadequate, thus result in family conflicts. Some of the children brought it the step-family unit many resist changes, which causes the step-parent to become frustrated when they feel that the family does not function as expected and almost associate with their previous one that broke. This brings about panic and strained communication, and resentment. Poor communication, over time, chips off the foundation that keeps the family intact, making some of the conflicts unsolvable (Pace, 2015).
Most step-family units undergo conflicts and stressors that in worst-case scenarios result in separation or divorce. In most cases, more conflict results from the attempt to try and convert other members of the unit to adapt to the new roles, whether inadvertently and in turn invite lack of cooperation and hostility in return. To mitigate these, both children and parents should attend classes that offer guidance to combat such issues. Furthermore, the unit members should seek to resolve conflict with empathy, understanding, and compassion (Pasley, 2017). The body works tirelessly to improve the understanding of the complexity of step-family units while pointing out some of the unique issues they face and increased knowledge and interventions of how to resolve the situation. Additionally, understanding the negotiation role through communication and conflict resolution alternatives comes in handy to solve the issues. Having clear communication among members of a family unit is vital for the success of these families.
Step-family units must embrace the communication process to deal with conflict. This includes recognizing and embracing personal weakens and strengths as this comes in handy to foster communication. Secondly, improve their listening skills as this is a critical ingredient in listing to each other better. When an individual feels herd and consequentially understood, they tend to develop love and trust for other people. Involving third parties to help reinforce their communication skills as a pathway to building a parental relationship. The quality of commutation in the family is a prediction for the satisfaction of the unit’s embers. Commutation can aggravate or elevate or influence the cognitive process of the family relationship. Negative interaction models are among contributors of ineffective communication and can result in instability of the step-families. It takes time to create a bond and sense of family identity to merge a step-family into one new family; therefore, communication is the key ingredient to tie the relationship that ensures that the structure roles and norms are quickly adopted and maintained without other members of the unit feeling left out.
References
Pace, G. T., Shafer, K., Jensen, T. M., & Larson, J. H. (2015). Step-parenting issues and relationship quality: The role of clear communication. Journal of Social Work, 15(1), 24-44.
Ganong, L., Jensen, T., Sanner, C., Russell, L., & Coleman, M. (2019). Stepfathers’ affinity-seeking with stepchildren, stepfather-stepchild relationship quality, marital quality, and step-family cohesion among stepfathers and mothers. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(5), 521.
Pasley, K., & van Eeden-Moorefield, B. (2017). An empirical look at contemporary step-families. S., Browning, B. van Eeden-Moorefield,(Eds.), Contemporary families at the nexus of research and practice, 51-68.
Pylyser, C., Buysse, A., & Loeys, T. (2018). Step-families doing family: A meta‐ethnography. Family Process, 57(2), 496-509.
