The Narrative of the Blended Family By: Andrena Brandy Mathis

Purpose The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate current attitudes toward differing family systems Courtesy of openclipart.org

Participant Demographics Age Range: 18 to 55 34.4% 65.6%

Family Structures 32 students surveyed 4/5 Family types represented 3.1% 12.5% 32 students surveyed 4/5 Family types represented 65.6% Traditional Family Structure 18.8% 65.6%

The Changing American Family Graphic Courtesy of the Pew Research Center

Findings: RQ1: What are college students perception of family structures including traditional, step or blended, single, and adoptive.

Findings: Attitudes #1 3.1% 9.4% 15.6% 37.5% 34.4%

Findings: Attitudes #2 3.1% 6.3% 21.9% 28.1 40.6%

Findings: Attitudes #3 6.3% 9.7% 29% 25.8% 29%

Findings: Attitudes #4 Note: No students disagreed with this statement 40.6% 25% 34.4% Note: No students disagreed with this statement

No one disagreed with this statement. Findings: Attitudes #5 3.1% 21.9% 75% The Graph is Skewed No one disagreed with this statement.

Findings: RQ6: Do millennial students have a different attitude toward stepfamily systems than other generations like Generation X or Baby Boomers?

Findings: RQ6 Continue

Findings: RQ6 Continue No significant difference between how Traditional and Non-traditional students attitudes regarding stepfamilies.

Relational Satisfaction Level of Satisfaction Total Score Dissatisfied 0-23 Satisfied 24-34 Very Satisfied 34-40

Relational Satisfaction 2 Resolving Conflicts Degree of Affection Resolving Conflicts Percentages Dissatisfied 9.4% Neutral 18.8% Satisfied 46.9% Very Satisfied 21.9% N/A 3.1% Resolving Conflicts Percentages Dissatisfied 0% Neutral 21.9% Satisfied 34.4% Very Satisfied 43.8% N/A

Relational Satisfaction 3 Intimacy w/Biological Parent Intimacy w/Step-Parent Resolving Conflicts Percentages Dissatisfied 3.1% Neutral Satisfied 43.8% Very Satisfied 50% N/A 0% Resolving Conflicts Percentages Dissatisfied 3.1% Neutral 6.3% Satisfied Very Satisfied N/A 81.3%

Relational Satisfaction 4 Resolving Conflicts Percentages Dissatisfied Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied N/A Resolving Conflicts Percentages Dissatisfied Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied N/A

Discussion Pilot Study had only 32 participants Sample pool did not reflect the national divorce rate No adoptive families surveyed and only 6 students rated the step-parent relational satisfaction statement Future Research: Evaluate how much attitudes towards different family structures are changing with the divorce rate using a larger sample size Test different communication strategies to increase relational satisfaction