Stepmothers’ Coparenting Experience with the Mother in Joint Custody Stepfamilies

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study is the first to focus exclusively on stepmothers’ coparenting experiences with mothers in joint custody families. Central findings include the stepmothers’ (a) struggles with the mother–father–stepmother relationship triangle, (b) stepmothers’ internal struggles with their role, (c) the perception of the mother as powerful, and (d) the view of themselves as powerless. Results also suggest that stepmothers in joint custody families undergo a 5-phase process of adapting to an unexpectedly complex stepfamily system. Based on these findings, the author suggests that future stepfamily research continue to examine joint custody families, especially the experiences and perceptions of mothers and stepmothers.

KEYWORDS:

• coparenting
• divorce
• grounded theory
• joint custody
• stepfamilies
• stepmother
• two mothers