- Stepfathers often better than biological parents
- By Stephen Lunn
- The Australian
- 08/09/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: moses ( 9 articles in 2008 )
THE stereotype of remote and impatient stepfathers not wanting anything to do with their new wife's children has been debunked, as a US study reveals stepfathers often make better parents than biological dads.
Stepfathers should be recognised as just as nurturing and caring as biological parents, says Stepfamilies Australia spokeswoman Dolla Merrillees.
Sociologist Lawrence Berger, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, surveyed more than 2000 mothers in at-risk families for his study. Published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, the study found stepfathers were more inclined than natural fathers to agree with the parenting philosophy of the mother, had higher levels of engagement with the children and were more co-operative parents.
Men who marry women with children might be more interested in parenting, while married biological fathers may lean towards being a breadwinner, he said.
"Social (non-biological) fathers engage in higher levels of co-operation in parenting than biological fathers," the study concludes. Ms Merrillees said the study ran counter to the view that stepfathers were "somewhat removed" from parenting.
Fiona Trembath, 49, stepdaughter to Richard Trembath, 66, for more than 40 years, said she did not really understand the amount of emotional and financial effort he invested in her until she was in a stepfamily situation in her own relationship.
"He was only 22 at the time, and suddenly found himself with a nine- and a seven-year-old," she said. "He told me our mum and us came as a package, so he just did it."
Stepfathers should be recognised as just as nurturing and caring as biological parents, says Stepfamilies Australia spokeswoman Dolla Merrillees.
Sociologist Lawrence Berger, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, surveyed more than 2000 mothers in at-risk families for his study. Published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, the study found stepfathers were more inclined than natural fathers to agree with the parenting philosophy of the mother, had higher levels of engagement with the children and were more co-operative parents.
Men who marry women with children might be more interested in parenting, while married biological fathers may lean towards being a breadwinner, he said.
"Social (non-biological) fathers engage in higher levels of co-operation in parenting than biological fathers," the study concludes. Ms Merrillees said the study ran counter to the view that stepfathers were "somewhat removed" from parenting.
Fiona Trembath, 49, stepdaughter to Richard Trembath, 66, for more than 40 years, said she did not really understand the amount of emotional and financial effort he invested in her until she was in a stepfamily situation in her own relationship.
"He was only 22 at the time, and suddenly found himself with a nine- and a seven-year-old," she said. "He told me our mum and us came as a package, so he just did it."
Source: https://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24309729-5013404,00.html
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