Abstract

Joint custody arrangements following parental divorce create a specific context for the development of the relationship between stepparents and stepchildren. Using data from the research project Divorce in Flanders (DiF) we test the importance of fulltime and parttime co-residence and a limited stepchildrearing role for a good stepparent-stepchild relationship. Spillover effects are considered from both parent-child relationships and relationships between old and new partners. We compare the results for the reported relationship quality by stepparent and stepchild. The results show that the importance of co-residence mainly runs via relationships with and between other family members. There are a lot of spill-over effects from relationships within the same household, but not from relationships between households. The strongest between-household relationship is the one between mothers and stepmothers regarding the stepmother-stepchild relationship. There are different indications that there is more competition between the mother and stepmother role than between the father and stepfather role.

How to Cite:

Vanassche, S. & Matthijs, K., (2012) “Deeltijds versus voltijds stiefouderschap: de relatie tussen stiefouders en stiefkinderen in moedergezinnen, vadergezinnen en verblijfsco-ouderschap na scheiding”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 33(3-4), 267–295. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86805