New Study: There Are Benefits To Having Stepparents

We’ve all read the slew of studies that warns that divorce can harm children – and there is no doubt that the divorce process can be hard on kids, especially at certain ages. However, a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center has found that while divorce can be a difficult time, stepparents and stepfamilies can enrich a child’s life and even lead to happier relationships and successful marriages for kids in the future.

The study, which surveyed almost 2,700 adults who grew up with stepfamilies, found that many children who grow up with a stepparent are positively affected by being exposed to a healthy, working relationship after experiencing divorce. In fact, the study found that 70 percent of adults with stepfamilies were happy with their family lives and that 60 percent reported that their own marriages were more successful than that of their divorced biological parents. While just over 40 percent of those with stepfamilies admit that they feel a stronger bond with their biological family members, the majority say that their lives have been enhanced by step-relatives.

While this study brings great news to those who have remarried or are considering a second marriage after a divorce, it is still important to remember that children can be extremely sensitive during the blending of families and that creating a working blended family takes time, patience, love, and hard work.