Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Stepfamilies 2. Frameworks and Theories for Understanding Stepfamilies 3. Contexts of Stepfamilies: Culture and Race 4. Stepfamily Formation: Pathways and Processes 5. Adults in Stepfamilies 6. Adult and Sibling Relationships in Stepfamilies 7. Child-Adult Relationships 8. Children in Stepfamilies 9. Intergenerational Relationships in Stepfamilies 10. Gay and Lesbian Stepfamilies 11. The Stepfamily as a Unit: Challenges and Wellbeing 12. Interventions for Stepfamilies 13. Legal and Policy Issues for Stepfamilies 14. Overview and Conclusions

About the Author

Jan Pryor, PhD, is an adjunct professor at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

Reviews

"The most comprehensive book on stepfamilies ever written - a real gem by a luminary in the field."- Susan Golombok, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, UK"This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of stepfamilies in the US and other parts of the world. Written by one of the world’s leading experts on stepfamilies, this textbook is perfectly suited for college-level courses on contemporary families." - Paul R. Amato, Pennsylvania State University, USA"Stepfamilies is a gem. With sensitivity to the individual yet careful attention to our evidence base, Jan Pryor teaches us about stepfamilies with breadth and in depth. I highly recommend this book to researchers, practitioners, students, and inquiring stepfamily members too." - Robert E. Emery, University of Virginia, USA"Jan Pryor is known world-wide as an expert on stepfamily organisation. Her book ... provides students with an extremely thorough review of stepfamily relationships in all their diversity. It is a very welcome addition to the literature."-Graham Allan, Keele University, UK"Jan Pryor ...is ...well respected by internation al colleagues. ... Instructors are increasingly focusing on other cultures and other countries in their teaching of family issues. ... [This] volume could be used by both advanced undergraduates as well as graduate students ... in ... psychology, sociology and social work."– Ross Parke, University of California, Riverside, USA"Stepfamilies can be quite complex and the author does a nice job of presenting the material in way that would help students grasp this complexity. ... This would be a valuable book for an advanced undergraduate course in family studies."-Valarie King, the Pennsylvania State University, USA"The book will clearly benefit from her expertise and knowledge of the field internationally. The book is comprehensive and could be used as a core text in a class on stepfamilies and in this way encourage the development of such courses …[or it] could be used as a supplement to a family studies class."- Robert Milardo, University of Maine, USA, Editor, Textbooks in Family Studies Series"If anyone can present a more global perspective on the topic, Dr. Pryor can. ... I would recommend [the book] ... for ... use ... [in] courses on marriage and family. ... The content is valuable to family studies people (including students). ... The "more than the U.S." is highly appealing." - Kay Pasley, Florida State University, USA"A thorough overview of a complex, multiconnected, and overlooked area. As such, it is a valuable contribution to the literature" - Cynthia C. Siebel, PsycCRITIQUES