Die identifisering van temas vir die ontwikkeling van 'n voorbereidingsprogram vir adolessente wat stiefgesinne betree

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the specific problems adolescent stepchildren in step-families are confronted with by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation to identify important themes necessary for developing a preparation program for adolescents who enter step-families. The literature study involves a theoretical grounding of the psychological development tasks of adolescence of which identity acquisition represents the central development crisis. The development of the adolescent, in interaction with the family and peer group, was also studied. The context in which step-families function, the phases in the normal step-family development cycle, as well as the structural differences between step and first-marriage families were looked at while the specific problems step-adolescents encounter in their step-families, as well as the potential advantages the step-situation hold in store for them, was investigated. Existing preparation programs for children who enter step-families were briefly evaluated with the aim to establish their value and efficiency and to identify omissions that exist in such programs. The empirical investigation existed of the drafting of a questionnaire for determining needs on the grounds of the literature study and its application to step-adolescents. The questionnaire is filled out by adolescents who presently live in step-families to verify the problems in practice that were identified in the literature. A further aim of the questionnaire was to establish which themes adolescents, who are already involved in step-families, deem necessary for inclusion in a preparation program. 54 subjects were recruited from two high schools on an anonymous basis, and 6 subjects by means of snowball sampling. Their ages varied between 13 and 18 years. The information obtained from the empirical investigation only partially corresponds with the suppositions in the literature. It also appeared that differences occurred in many of the dimensions that were investigated, between the experiences of the boys and the girls. A possible reason for the discrepancy between the literature and the responses of the subjects probably lies in the fact that the majority of the respondents have already lived in their step-families for longer than 6 years and have already overcome most of their

adaptation problems. In spite of the fact that the empirical investigation does not confirm many of the suppositions in the literature, the relevant themes however, as indicated in the literature, are necessary for a preparation program for prospective step-adolescents. Finally the omissions in this study were indicated and recommendations were made for further research.