1. The Narrative of the Blended Family
By: Andrena Brandy Mathis

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

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

4. 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%

5. The Changing American Family
Graphic Courtesy of the Pew Research Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. Findings: RQ6 Continue

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

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

16. 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

17. 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%

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

19. 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