Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Heather Crandall

Second Advisor

Dr. Joshua Misner

Abstract

With an average divorce rate of approximately 50 percent (Carter & McGoldrick, 2005), it is estimated that 20 percent of U.S. adolescents have at least one stepparent. Because family structure plays a large role in shaping both individual self-identity and the identity of the family unit as a whole, blended families differ from traditional families in terms of communication styles, behavioral outcomes, and several other factors. For the purposes of this paper, a blended family refers to one in which the household contains at least one stepparent, and a traditional family refers to one in which both biological parents are married and living within the same household. In relation to blended families, limited research has been conducted to understand the dynamics of the parent–child relationship and the impact on overall family well-being, particularly regarding issues such as communication, discipline, and self-awareness among stepparents, stepchildren, biological parents, and biological children. To examine this issue, Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPM Theory) will be used. The purpose of this paper is to investigate why blended families report higher levels of household conflict than traditional families and how communication contributes to this increased level of discord.

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