A qualitative analysis of stepfamily formation in singapore

A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF STEPFAMILY FORMATION IN SINGAPORE IRENE L N TAN-JACOB (BSc (Hons) Liverpool, Grad Dipl (SW) NUS) A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2006 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Rosaleen Ow, for her ideas, advice and patient reviewing of the many drafts of this thesis. Her empathy and assistance at helping me complete the thesis within the time-frame, are greatly appreciated. Very special acknowledgments also go to Ms Maureen Fung, Group Director of Asian Women’s Welfare Association, Mrs Rena Sivadas, counselor at Asian Women’s Welfare Association Family Service Centre and Che Idah Kasmin, social worker at As Salaam, Young Women Muslim Association Family Support Centre for the assistance they gave in recruiting stepfamilies for the study. Without their help, this study would not have taken off. The understanding, encouragement and help given by friends for the project have been an important factor in motivating me to see it to its conclusion. The final acknowledgement is to the twenty-nine individuals who trustingly and kindly agreed to assist in the study so that others may learn from their sharing. In all truth, without them this project would not have been possible. Their voices represent those of all the stepfamilies in Singapore who are giving love another chance in their lives and making their families a joy for all. I salute each of you for being the person you are. i. TABLE OF CONTENTS. TITLE PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i TABLE OF CONTENTS ii-viii BIBLIOGRAPHY & APPENDICES ix LIST OF TABLES x-xi LIST OF FIGURES. xii SUMMARY xiii CHAPTER PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION Research Aims Statement of the Problem Increase in rates of divorce and remarriage in Singapore. Concern for children impacted by divorce and remarriage. Social stigma for divorce and remarriage. Research on Stepfamilies Western research on stepfamilies. Research on stepfamilies in Singapore and Hong Kong. Definition of Key Terms ii. Significance of the Study 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Outline of Chapter 10 1. Cultural Perspectives on Stepfamilies 11 Stepfamilies as an incomplete institution. 11 Stepfamilies as socially stigmatized. 13 2. Overview of Stepfamily Research 15 Early studies: between group, deficit-comparative approach. 15 The normative-adaptive perspective 16 3. Review of Recent Empirical Studies on Selected Aspects of Stepfamily Life 18 The stepparent role. 18 Nature of the couple relationship. 19 Impact of stepfamily life on children. 20 Strategies employed in stepfamilies. 22 4. Theoretical Perspectives on Stepfamilies 23 5. Studies on Stepfamily Development 24 iii. Stage-based studies on stepfamilies. 24 Trajectory model of stepfamily development. 28 Comparison of the two models. 29 6. Research on Stepfamilies in Singapore and in Hong Kong 30 Singapore research on stepfamilies. 30 Hong Kong studies on stepfamilies. 32 7. The Research Questions 34 Objectives of current research. 34 Conceptual framework. 35 The research questions. 36 3. METHODOLOGY Study Design 37 Recruitment 38 Recruitment procedure. 38 The sample recruited. 39 Collection of Data 40 Data Analysis. 42 iv. Limitations of the Study 4. 45 FINDINGS Outline of Chapter 47 Overview of Stages of Stepfamily Development Stages of stepfamily development identified from the data. 47 Stages of stepfamily development in the Stepfamily Cycle. 49 Rate of progress of the families in the sample. 50 Structural Composition of the Nine Families Complexity of the stepfamilies. 1.The Five Stages of Stepfamily Development 51 53 55 Concerns, Events and Activities of Stage Reasons given for marrying. 55 Parents’ approach and the children’s response. 58 The reaction from extended family members. 64 The reaction from ex-spouses. 68 Response from the social community. 70 Other practical concerns and activities. 73 Summary. 78 Concerns and Activities of Stage Adjustments were more difficult than anticipated. v. 78 Adjustment to non-relational changes. 79 Adjustments to relational changes. 82 Concerns and Activities of Stage Definition & concepts of conflicts. 88 Areas of conflicts. 89 Sources of conflict. 90 Conflicts reported by the respondents. 90 When conflicts became crises. 93 Summary to Stages and 96 Concerns and Activities of Stage Families that had completed restructuring. 97 Types of restructuring efforts reported. 97 Concluding remarks. 102 Concerns and Activities of Stage Feelings and activities reported at stage 5. 103 Feeling like a family. 105 Review of the Stages of Development of the Stepfamilies Summary. 106 110 2. Resources and Protective Factors in Stepfamily Members 111 Resources Reported by Stepfamily Members Specific individual resources reported by stepfamily members. 114 vi. Specific familial resources reported by stepfamily members. 118 Specific environmental resources reported by stepfamily members. 121 Resources and Demographic Factors Common to the Fast Families Common resources in the reported by the fast families. 126 Common demographic factors reported in the fast families. 127 Psycho-social factors common to the fast families. 128 Collation of similarities in the fast families. 129 Conclusion. 131 3. Interesting Patterns and Themes that Emerged from the Data 131 A. Interesting Findings about Stepparent-Stepchild Relationship. Stepchildren’s preparedness for stepparents’ entry. 132 Roles played by stepparents. 134 Success of stepparent’s role and age of children. 135 Summary . 138 B. Advice Given by Stepfamily Members to Others Advice given by parents. 139 Advice given by children. 140 C. The Adolescents in the Sample Adolescents: the largest age-cohort. 142 The transitions the adolescents have experienced. 144 vii. The adolescents’ distress at parents’ lack of communication. 146 The adolescents’ relationship with grandparents . 147 Summary and concluding remarks. 149 Overall Summary of Chapter 5. 151 DISCUSSION. Objectives of the Study and Summary of its Findings 152 Highlights of discussion on findings to R.Q. 1. 153 Highlights of discussion on findings to R.Q. 2. 155 Highlights of discussion on findings to R.Q. 3. 155 Implications for Social Work Practice 157 Direct Practice with stepfamily members. 157 Involving the meso-system. 158 Getting into the exo- and macrosystems. 159 Recommendations for Future Research 160 Conclusion 162 viii. BIBLIOGRAPHY 163-170 APPENDICES APPENDIX A/1 Letter to Social Service Agencies 171 APPENDIX A/2 Letter to Prospective Recruits 172 APPENDIX B Biodata on Member-families. 173 APPENDIX C Informed Consent Form 174 APPENDIX D/1/2 Questionnaire for Adults 175-176 APPENDIX D/3 Questionnaire for Children 177 APPENDIX E1/2 Interview Questions 178-179 APPENDIX F Interview Times and Pages of Transcripts 180 APPENDIX G Codes used in Analysis of Data 181 ix. Hetherington, E.M. ( 1993 ) An overview of the Virginia longitudinal study of divorce and remarriage with a focus on early adolescence. Journal of family Psychology 7, pp – 18. Hetherington, M.E. & Clingempeel, W.G. ( 1992) Coping with Marital Transitions: A Family Systems Perspective. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 57. Hetherington, M.E. & Jodl, K.M. (1995) Stepfamilies as Settings for Child Development, In A. Booth & J. Dunn ( Eds.) Stepfamilies. Who benefits? 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The Stepstop. Sydney.Australia. Robinson M. (1991) Family Transformation Through Divorce and Remarriage. A systemic approach. Tavistock/Routledge. London. Robinson, M., & Smith D. ( 1993) Step by Step: Focus on Stepfamilies. Harvester/Wheatsheaf. In association with the National Stepfamily Association. Rodwell, J.(2002) Repartnered families: Creating new ways of living together beyond the nuclear family. Penguin Books. Sager, C.J., Walker, E., Brown, H. S., Crohn, H.M. & Rodstein, E.(1981) Improving Functioning of the Remarried Family System. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy Vol 7(1) pp.629-639. Secombe,K. (2002) Beating the odds versus changing the odds: Poverty, Resilience and Family policy. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, pp. 384-394. Stepfamily Association of America: Stepfamily Facts. Retrieved from www.saafamilies.otg on may 2006 Tan, K. (2003) Turning Points between Stepchildren and Stepparents. NUS Thesis. 2003. Tutty, L.M., Rothery, M. & Grinnell, Jr.,R.M.(1995) Qualitative Research for Social Workers. Phases, Steps & Tasks. Allyn & Bacon. 169 Visher, E.B. & Visher, J.S.( 1979) Stepfamilies: a Guide to Working with Stepparents and Stepchildren. Brunner/Mazel, Publishesr.N.Y. Visher,E.B. & Visher, J.S. ( (1993) Remarriage Families and Stepparent. In F. Walsh ( Ed ) Normal Family Processes ( Second Edition) . N.Y. Guildford Press. Visher, E., & Visher, J. ( 1995) Avoiding the mine fields of stepfamily therapy. In D.K. Huntley ( Ed.) Understanding stepfamilies: Implications for assessment and treatment pp 25-35. Alexandria VA. American Counseling Association Visher, E., Visher, J., & 22- 35 Pasley, K. (1997) Stepfamily therapy from the client’s perspective. Marriage and Family Review, 26 191-213. Walsh, F. (1996) The Concept of Family Resilience: Crisis and Challenge. Family Process Vol 35(3 pp.261-281 Webber, R (1994) Living in a Stepfamily ( Second Edition.) Acer Press. Webber, R (2002) Making Stepfamilies Work: Step-relationships in Asian Stepfamilies. In print (personal communication). Australian Catholic University. Melbourne.Australia. White, L. (1994) Stepfamilies over the life course: Social support. In A. Booth & J.Dunn ( Eds.) Stepfamilies: Who benefits? Who does not? pp. Hillsdale, N.J. Lawrence Erlbaum. White, M. (1995) Re-Authoring Lives: Interviews and Essays. Dulwich Centre Publications. Whiteside, M. F. (1982) Remarriage: A Family Developmental Process. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy Vol 8. pp 59-69. Winton, C.A. (1995) Frameworks for studying families. Guildford, CT: Dushkin. Yedidis, B.L., & Weinbach, R.W. (2002) Research Methods for Social Workers ( Fourth Edition.) Allyn & Bacon. 170 APPENDIX A/1 To Whom It May Concern Mrs Irene Jacob is a graduate student in the Department of Social Work and Psychology of the National University of Singapore. A research study is a requirement of the Master of Social Sciences ( Social Work) programme that she is currently undertaking. Her research study is on stepfamilies, with special interest in the developmental stages the families have gone through. Through the process of interviewing, she hopes to gain insight into the specific issues that impact on the families’ development and what personal and social resources have been helpful in resolving the difficulties faced. The researcher is aware that for some individuals, talking about negative aspects of their lives and/or their families may entail stress and emotional risk. She will ensure that formal informed consent is obtained from each interviewee and freedom to terminate the interview and withdraw from the study will be facilitated when desired. Children younger than 18 years old will take part in this study only with their parents’ consent. The researcher seeks your help to approach the stepfamilies known to you to assist in this research project. Very few studies have been done in Singapore and the Asian region on stepfamilies. So what can be learned about the difficulties they encounter can help formulate policy, strategies for education and family intervention for a form of family life that has grown in numbers in the past decade. Researcher: Mrs Irene Jacob Address: 95B Sunset Way S. 597121 Tel: 90102411 Email:ijacob@pacific.net.sg Supervisor: Dr Rosaleen Ow Department of Social Work and Psychology, NUS. Blk AS6 # 04-28, 11 Law Link. S117570 68743811. swkowso@nus.edu.sg. 171 APPENDIX A/2 95B Sunset Way S’pore. 597121 Dear friends, My name is Irene Jacob. I am a graduate student of the Department of Social Work and Psychology at the University of Singapore and am currently involved in a research project. After meeting and listening to a few members of stepfamilies, I am convinced that many issues that impact on their lives are different from those of first-marriage families. I think it is important to identify and understand these issues better by a research study. Such research is overdue as the number of stepfamilies in Singapore has risen steadily in the past two decades and practically no local work has been done on the subject. The Asian Women’s Welfare Association, AWWA, which started a small service for stepfamilies a few years ago, is supporting this study for this reason. What I can learn from this study can be of help to counselors and social workers, teachers and people in the helping profession, who are in contact with stepfamilies who may need help. It can also help dispel the stigma that is still attached to stepfamilies in our society today. I am wrtiting to ask you and some members of your family to consider being a part of the study. Any information given will be held in strict confidentiality and at no time will you be identified by name or any identifying characteristics in the report produced. Participation will require of you, your spouse and at least one child above the age of seven, to e interviewed by me in separate interviews, about your experience of becoming a stepfamily. The place of the interview will be at your convenience or at AWWA Family Service Centre, at a time mutually convenient to us. If you wish further information or are willing to participate in this study, please contact me at the above address or at e-mail address: ijacob@pacific.net.sg or mobile number 90102411. Thank you for your attention. Mrs. Irene Jacob 172 APPENDIX B BIODATA ON FAMILY MEMBERS Family A B C D E F G H J 56 46 52 35 32 30 41 35 45 47 34 32 46 40 Age at time of REM Man Woman 41 40 50 44 Occupation Man Woman Adm Man Engin Engin Hmaker Man Man Man Sup Man Hmaker Man Teach Beaut Engin Adm Man Man 2 NA NA NA NA M/18 M/17 - M/26 M/17 M/16 M/14 - F/3 - F/17 F/15 F/13 M/10 F/15 M/10 F/16 F/14 F/17 F/12 M/11 F/9 M/7 M/5 M/17 F/15 F/13 M/10 M/7 F/11 M/5 F/7 F/5 - M/16 M/14 F/12 M/11 M/7 * Number of children From prev.marriage Man Woman Gender and age of Children at REM Man Woman - Gender and age of Children NOT in SF M/18 Time-gap btw 1st Marriage and REM (years) Man Woman NA 2mths NA 17 6mths Length of REM (years) 17 6mths - - - - NA 6mths - F/17 F/15 F/13 M/10 NA 6mths __________________________________________________________ *Adm – adminstrator; Beaut – beautician; Engin – Engineer; Hmaker – homemaker; Man – manager; Sup – supervisor; Teach – teacher. 173 APPENDIX C Informed Consent Form My name is Irene Jacob. I am a research student at the Department of Social Work and Psychology, NUS. My supervisor for this research is Dr Rosaleen Ow and she can be contacted at the Department of Social Work and Psychology, NUS, at Tel: 68743811. The purpose of the study is to learn what issues are faced by stepfamilies and how they cope with the difficulties they encounter. What is learned from this study will be of tremendous help to people starting off as a stepfamily and to social workers and counselors who desire to help them. Thank you for considering whether you will help in this project by taking part in this interview. To help you decide, I would like to reassure you that as a participant, you have several definite rights which will be respected. i) ii) iii) iv) v) Your participation is entirely voluntary. No penalty will result from not taking part. You are free to refuse to answer any question at any time. You are free to withdraw from the interview at any time and any information already given will be destroyed. Your identity and any information given will be kept in strict confidentiality. Excerpts of the interview may be made part of the study report but under no circumstances will your name or identifying characteristics be included in it. I would be grateful if you would sign this form to show you are fully aware of your rights And that you volunteer to participate in this study. Thank you. Interviewer: Interviewee/parent of Child interviewee. Signature:…………………………. ……………………………… Date ………………………………… ………………………………… 174 APPENDIX D/1 THE QUESTIONNAIRE ( Parent/Stepparent ). Interviewee number__________________ Date of interview ___________________ Time from __________ to ___________ Please circle the appropriate response or write the information required. 1. Sex Male______________________________________________ Female______________________________________________ 2. How old are you? Less than 20 years _________________________________ 20 –29 ____________________________________________ 30 – 39____________________________________________ 40 – 49____________________________________________ 50 – 59____________________________________________ 60 and above years___________________________________6 3. What is your ethnic group? Chinese____________________________________________ Malay______________________________________________ Indian______________________________________________ Caucasian___________________________________________ Others: specify_______________________________________ What is your religion? No religious affiliation_________________________________ Buddhism____________________________________________ Christianity__________________________________________ Hinduism____________________________________________ Islam_______________________________________________ Sikhism_____________________________________________ Taoism/Chinese traditional beliefs_______________________ Others: specify_______________________________________ Are you at the moment? Having a paid job_____________________________________ Running your own business_____________________________ Unemployed__________________________________________ Retired or pensioned___________________________________ Homemaker__________________________________________ Student______________________________________________ 4. 5. 175 APPENDIX D/2 6. What is your occupation? (Please describe your occupation e.g. IT technician, teacher, security guard, food retailer etc) ________________________________________________________________ 7. 8. What schools have you attended? No formal education___________________________________ Incompleted primary school_____________________________ Incompleted secondary school___________________________ Completed secondary school ( O levels ) __________________ Technical and vocational schools_________________________ Polytechnics__________________________________________ Junior colleges ( A levels)_______________________________ University ( First degree )_______________________________ University (Postgraduate studies)_________________________ Previous marriage ( If applicable; if not applicable, please skip this question) Period: From ( year) ______________ to (year) ____________________ Sex and ages of children from first marriage: Children’s place of residence: If children’s other parent is remarried, for how long? _________________________________________________________________ How often he children see this parent? _________________________________________________________________ ` 9. Current marriage: When did it take place?______________________________________________ Where did the new family set up its first home?__________________________ Sex and ages of children in the household: At beginning of marriage____________________________________________ Currently_________________________________________________________ Other members in the household: At beginning of marriage____________________________________________ Currently_________________________________________________________ Thank you very much. We shall now proceed with the interview. 176 APPENDIX D/3 THE QUESTIONNAIRE ( Child ) Interviewee number _______________ Date of interview _________________ Time : From _______ to __________ Please circle the appropriate response or write the information required. 1. Sex Male _______________________________________________ Female______________________________________________ 2. How old are you? ___________________________________________ 3. Please state the sex and ages of your siblings, half-siblings and step-siblings ( if any ). Siblings: sex/age ____________________________________________ Half-siblings: sex/age ________________________________________ Stepsiblings: sex/age _________________________________________ 4. What is your ethnic group? Chinese____________________________________________________ Malay _____________________________________________________ Indian _____________________________________________________ Caucasian __________________________________________________ Others:specify ______________________________________________ 5. What is your religion? No religious affiliation _______________________________________ Buddhism __________________________________________________ Christianity ________________________________________________ Hinduism __________________________________________________ Islam _____________________________________________________ Sikhism ___________________________________________________ Taoism/Chinese Traditional beliefs ____________________________ Others:specify ______________________________________________ 6. What is your present occupation? _________________________________ 7. How old were you when your parents’ marriage ended? __________ years old. when your parent remarried? ________________ years old. 8. If your parents’ first marriage ended in divorce, how often did/do you see your non-custodial parent? In the past _____________________________________________________ Now __________________________________________________________ 5 9. Where, when and with whom have you lived since your parent’s first marriage ended?_________________________________________________________ Thank you. We will now start the interview. 177 APPENDIX E/1 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR STEPFAMILY MEMBERS Remarried adults First-married adults Children A.Starting up 1. Reason What was your reason for remarrying? For marrying? 2.Preparation Who did you have to prepare for the REM? Why? How? 3.Expectations What hopes, expectations did you have for yourself, your spouse and children( if any)? With whom did you share these hopes/feelings? What did you mostly think/feel about the Rem? 4.Reaction of others What kinds of reactions did you get from people about your intention to marry/remarry? How did their reaction affect you? Did other people talk to you about your parent’s Rem? Who?What did they say? 5.First marriage What lessons/feelings you think you carry forward from your first marriage to the Rem? Why you think your parent rem? Were you prepared for Rem? How? What did you feel about getting a stepparent? B. The reality 1. Major changes In what way did your life change after the marriage? Were any of the changes harder to cope with than others? 2. Early strugglesWhat presented problems for you in the new family life? Did you ever feel torn between your Did you ever feel the Spouse and children? Why? Outsider? Why? What did you do? How did you cope? What was the hardest adjustment? Why? How long did it last? Was there a time you felt the whole marriage was a mistake? What was the crisis? What made you hold on? 3.Learning Can you identify the factor(s) that helped you overcome difficulties? What did you learn to better? What did you learn to stop doing? How have you changed as a person since the marriage? Who you see as having done the most to make the family work? How did your life change? Were they good changes? Or sad? How did you feel towards your stepparent? What did you call him/her? Was it easy/hard to accept him/her? Who/What helped you to adjust to the changes? Who you think is trying hardest to make the family happy? 4.Feeling like a family Using a scale of 10 to rate how much you feel your family has become a harmonious unit10=very satisfied, 0= not satisfied at all- can you give grades to your family over the years since the remarriage to now? 178 APPENDIX E/2 C. Outside influence. 1. The noncustodial parent What was the relnship between you How you feel about you and your ex-spouse at the Rem? your spouse’s ex? How much time/influence does your How much influence ex have on your children? does he/she have on your spouse? stepchd? What change would you like to make happen in this area? 2.Extended familyWhat was the response of your family of origin to your marriage? What did they say or that was helpful? that made you sad/angry? Has they attitude towards your marriage changed over the years? What you think brought on the changes? How you feel about your absent parent? How often and for how long you Do you want to live with him/her? Which of grand parents/aunts/ uncles are you close to?What did they say/do when your parent Rem? 3. Other external influences What reaction did you get from people when they heard you were going Did you ever tell to start a stepfamily? anyone your Have you encountered any awkward/unpleasant situation because of parent’s Rem? What your stepfamily? Have you ever tried to appear ‘normal’? the reaction? Can you identify any person or thing –a talk, movie, pastor, support Do you sometimes group- that has helped you and your stepfamily? wish your parents What other kind of help you wish were available? Would reconcile? 4. Closing questions If this marriage could start all over again, how differently would you like things to be done? What advice would you give some other family about how they should be/act to make their stepfamily a success? Is there anything else about stepfamilies I should have asked you that would help me and others understand stepfamilies better? 179 APPENDIX F. TIME TAKEN FOR THE INTERVIEWS AND NUMBER OF PAGES OF TRANSCRIPTS PRODUCED. TIME TAKEN FOR INTERVIEWS ( MINUTES) ___________________________________________________________________________________ FAMILY MEMBER MEMEBR MEMBER MEMBER TOTAL ___________________________________________________________________________________ A 68 45 55 80 248 B 67 80 55 - 202 C 80 70 40 - 190 D 55 55 45 75 230 E 30 105 20 - 155 F 110 110 70 50 540 G FAMILY GROUP INTERVIEW H 90 90 - 135 - 180 J 65 70 60 195 ______________________________________________________________________________________ GRAND TOTAL 1875 MINS. __________________________ NUMBER OF PAGES OF TRANSCRIPTS PRODUCED _____________________________________________________________________________________ FAMILY MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER TOTAL _____________________________________________________________________________________ A 21 15 22 34 92 B 27 21 17 - 65 C 22 28 15 - 65 D 20 24 11 30 85 E 11 - 19 F 21 23 19 14 77 G H FAMILY GROUP INTERVIEW 15 20 26 - - 35 J 19 25 19 63 ______________________________________________________________________________________ GRAND TOTAL 521 PAGES 180 APPENDIX G. CODES USED IN DATA ANALYSIS COMMUNICATION UNITS STAGE PREMARRIAGE Expectations For self For others Reaction of others Of children Of extended family Of social community Of ex-spouses Preparation Of children Of extended family Of new home STAGE ADJUSTMENT Adjustment to new environment Adjustment to new household Adjustment to new culture Adjustment to new relationship With child parent stepparent stepchild stepsibling extended family Adjustment to role ambiguity loyalty conflict middle position outsider syndrome social community STAGE CONFLICTS/CRISES Conflicts between spouses Quarrels Cold war Want to quit Infidelity Conflicts with children Studies Rude/rebel Run away Stay out Break law STAGE RESTRUCTURING Change expectations Attitude Behaviour Seek help From family Friends CODES OTHERS CODES E Es Eo R Rc Ref Rsc Res P Pc Pef Pnh Social stigma in self from others SS SSs Sso Protective factors individual familial environmental PF Pfi Pff Pfe Risk factors individual familial environment Previous marriage lessons learnt pain/grief ex-spouse RF RFi RFf RFe PM PMl PMg PMes AE AH AC AR ARc ARp ARsp ARsc ARss ARef ARra ARlc ARmp ARo ARsc CS CSq CScw CSqu CSif CC CCst CCrr CCra CCso Ccbl CE CA CB SH SHef SHf STAGE CONSOLIDATION Feel family harmony achievement new bonds new members new rituals/history Fh Fa Fb Fm Fr 181 182 [...]... stepfamily are awkward derivations of the traditional ones, for example, ex-mother -in- law, stepgrandparent Commonly used terms like real father, natural mother imply that stepparents are unreal or unnatural and a stepfamily must feel abnormal if the nuclear family is spoken of as a normal family ( Ganong & Coleman, 1997) A less evident but very serious aspect of remarriage being an incomplete social institution... remarriage was the death of a spouse Today, the main cause is divorce Official figures show the increase in the number of remarriages in Singapore over the past two decades (Table 1.C.) While the rate of divorces in Singapore has doubled ( Table 1 B ) , the rate of remarriages has tripled in the same period Table 1.C Grooms and brides by marriage order Women’s Charter 1983 Number Grooms % 1st marriage... precipitating events and outcomes 95 4.0 Timelines for nine Families A – J 107 4.U(ii) Stepparent roles, ages of stepchildren and predominant outcome in their relationship 135 xii SUMMARY A Qualitative Analysis Of Stepfamily Formation In Singapore The study sought to identify the stages of development of stepfamilies in Singapore Members of nine stepfamilies, eighteen adults and eleven children, were asked... non-acceptance from inlaws and extended family members ( Webber, 2002; Kung et al., 2004 ) Such external pressures exacerbate the internal tensions that a stepfamily may already have, and it is realistic to conclude that remarriages in Singapore face a greater risk of dissolution than first marriages, as is noted in the U.S (Stepfamily Association of America, 2006 ) Service to remarried families would therefore... stepfamilies often encounter barriers in the form of enrolment forms, parent-teacher communications and visitation of a stepchild in intensive care in hospitals (Ganong & Coleman, 1997) The other evidence of remarriage being an incomplete institution is the absence of appropriate terms in the language for relations within the stepfamily Due to the dominance of the nuclear family, terms used for the stepfamily. .. developing Asian countries as well ( Table 1.B.) 1 Table 1 B Per cent marriages ending in divorce in selected Asian countries 1992 2002 South Korea 11 47 Hongkong 13 41 Singapore 15 26 Japan 22 38 _ Adapted from graphics in story “ Getting Out” TIME magazine April 5 2004 Another increase observable in recent years is that of remarriage figures In the past, the main cause... reported as a major difficulty faced by stepmothers (Kwok, 1998) , and social sanctions against remarriage for women were still strong in contemporary Hong Kong ( Kung et al., 2004) Mathi ( 2001 ) noted that while divorce rates have increased over the past two decades in Singapore the stigma of divorce has not disappeared Jawad ( 1998) had a similar view and affirmed that divorce was a stigma with blame for... it placed on the women despite the 14 fact that according to Islam, a divorced woman has the right to remarry without any shame or denunciation In a survey of 54 helping professionals in Singapore, Webber (2002) reported that a quarter of them held the view that social stigmatization, with its attendant shame and loss of face, resulted in problems of non-acceptance from extended family members 2 An Overview... girls in remarried families Strategies employed in stepfamilies A review of studies on this aspect of stepfamily life proved fruitful as in the past decade, much qualitative work has focused on understanding family strategies and processes that improve family functioning Ganong, Coleman, Fine & Martin (1999), examined the strategies that stepparents used to develop and maintain affinity with their stepchildren... extensively and lectured nationwide to stepfamily members and clinicians They founded the Stepfamily Association of America in 1979 and interest in stepfamily research was stimulated to the extent that special issues of scientific journals were devoted to reports of studies on remarriage and stepparenting ( Journal of Family Issues 1980, 1992 ; Family Relations 1984, 1989 ) 16 Ganong and Coleman ( 2004 ), also . that a stepfamily may already have, and it is realistic to conclude that remarriages in Singapore face a greater risk of dissolution than first marriages, as is noted in the U.S. (Stepfamily Association. outcome in their relationship. 135 xii. SUMMARY A Qualitative Analysis Of Stepfamily Formation In Singapore The study sought to identify the stages of development of stepfamilies in Singapore. Members. 38 _____________________________________________________________________ Adapted from graphics in story “ Getting Out”. TIME magazine April 5 2004. Another increase observable in recent years is that of remarriage figures. In the past, the main cause for remarriage