Research Findings

How Does Having a Mutual Child Affect Stepfamily Adjustment?

Kay Pasley* & Emily Lipe*, Summer 1998

The research question in the title is one that is asked often by persons who currently are considering remarriage or who have recently remarried. Yet, it is one of those research topics that we know little about. Because most remarriages occur during women's reproductive years, childbearing in a second or subsequent marriage might be expected. In fact, evidence (Griffith, Koo, & Schindran, 1985; Wineberg, 1990) suggests childbearing is not uncommon in remarriages. Several questions are worthy of consideration here: What effect does a mutual child have on the new marriage? Why do couples elect to have a mutual child? What effect does a mutual child have on the relationships within the stepfamily?

In answer to the first question, we know that in first marriages having a child affects the marriage in two ways. It reduces the risk of divorce (White, 1990) while simultaneously negatively affecting the marital quality or happiness of the adults (Glenn, 1990). This is understandable in that research shows that children act as a barrier to divorce. In other words, parents are less likely to see divorce as a viable alternative to their current situation; they take more time and give more consideration to the effects of divorce on their children when considering divorce as an option. At the same time, children complicate married life in such a way as to bring both added joy and challenge to daily interaction. Complications stem from parenting children and meeting the needs of the marriage. Often the latter takes a back seat to the completing demands of parenthood and work-related responsibilities. In the face of trying to meeting such competing demands, it is not surprising that marital satisfaction is diminished.

Like first marriages, we also know that having a mutual child reduces the risk of divorce in remarriages (Wineberg, 1992) in the same complicated way as noted above. In fact, evidence suggests that remarrieds who choose to have a mutual child in the first five years of the marriage are at lower risk for divorce, This lower risk holds for about 10 years of marriage. After this time, however, children born to the remarriage no longer reduce the probability of divorce.

In answer to the question about the reasons for having a mutual child, several scholars have asked members of stepfamilies about this. For example, in a study of 105 stepfamilies, Ganong and Coleman (I 988) found that a primary reason was the hope that the mutual child would "cement the bond" of marriage. Specifically, they noted that of those with such a child, 68% wanted to have a child with this partner, another 14% said they felt obligated to do so, and 14% reported an unplanned pregnancy. Like Ganong and Coleman, Bernstein (1990) found in her study of 55 stepfamilies that the sense of obligation was to a new spouse who had no children, and that this obligation was a powerful influence in their decision. The sense of obligation also stemmed from perceived social pressure to be like "a normal family." On the other hand, when couples in both studies elected not to have a mutual child, their reasons included: (a) they were too old to do so, (b) they were concerned about their economic resources and possible economic strain, and (c) they already had enough children.

We know less about the effects of a mutual child on stepfamily life and stepfamily interaction. Clearly, complications result from bearing a mutual child in a stepfamily because members simultaneously must deal with issues confronting biological families and stepfamilies. The mutual child may experience pressure from the hope placed on him or her for creating a "special bond" among all other family members. Bernstein suggested that this can result in a privileged place for this child that Interferes with the relationships between other resident children and their parents, causing jealousy and feelings of resentment. Yet, the scant literature suggests that stepchildren and stepfamily adults both view the mutual child no differently than other biological siblings. In fact, parents saw having a mutual child as a positive influence on their relationship with their stepchildren, However, as might be expected, older stepchildren commonly saw the new child as "extra baggage"--a less desirable addition to their already complicated family life (Beer, 1992; Bernstein. 1990; Ganong & Coleman, 1988).

Because of the limited nature of the research in this area, we would be remiss to suggest that the birth of a mutual child enhances or inhibits stepfamily life, It appears that remarriers are more conscious of marital difficulties and will weigh the consequences of having and rearing a child born to new marriage and family in their decision.

* Kay Pasley is the Chair of the SAA Research Committee, and is on the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Emily Lipe is a master's student in educational leadership at the same university.