Quasi-Kin Relationships, Structural Complexity, and Marital Quality in Stepfamilies: A Replication, Extension, and Clinical Implications

Abstract

This study attempted to replicate and extend the structural complexity and Effects obtained in the Clingempeel (1981) study of marital quality in stepfather families. Sixteen couples from simple stepfather families, 16 couples from simple stepmother families, and 16 couples from complex stepfather families, were divided into three groups of frequency of contact with quasi-kin (high, moderate, and low) and participated in a multimethod assessment of marital quality. The Goldilocks Effect (curvilinear relations between frequency of contact with quasi-kin and marital quality) was not replicated. The three frequency of contact groups did not differ on the marital quality measures. The structural complexity effect (stepfamilies with a more complex structure have lower marital quality) was obtained for the nonverbal behavioral measures. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.