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ObjectiveTo explore fathers' experiences as biological parents in father–stepmother families.BackgroundBiological parents play an important role in the formation and development of stepfamily relationships, but little is known about fathers in stepfamilies.MethodIn‐person interviews were conducted with 10 Belgian fathers. Interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged from the data: (a) reflecting on children's experiences and transitions, (b) pursuing a shared family understanding, and (c) innovating new ways of doing fatherhood and family. The first theme centers on fathers' concerns about the impact family transitions may have on their children. The second theme centers on fathers' pursuit of a shared understanding that clarifies family roles and expectations within the stepfamily. The last theme addresses the creativity of these fathers as they co‐construct new stepfamily and fatherhood identities in the absence of culturally ascribed norms.ConclusionGiven their connecting role as parent and partner, biological fathers in stepfamilies are key to the formation and development of a new family narrative.Findings contribute to family practitioners' understanding of how fathers experience stepfamily life.

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined sex and sexual orientation differences in the context of the effects of coping strategies on relationship satisfaction.BackgroundThe sex and sexual orientation differences on the association between coping strategies and relationship satisfaction are not yet fully understood.MethodThe participants were 3,805 Belgian individuals who self‐identified as heterosexual (n = 2,024), bisexual (n = 790), or gay/lesbian (n = 991).ResultsResults showed that (a) task‐oriented and emotion‐oriented coping was positively and negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, respectively; (b) social diversion–oriented coping was positively associated with relationship satisfaction only among those who identified as heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; and (c) distraction‐oriented coping was positively associated with relationship satisfaction only among those identifying as bisexual. Multiple group tests based on sex within each sexual orientation category confirm that (a) a stronger association was observed between task‐oriented coping and relationship satisfaction for bisexual men compared to bisexual women; (b) the negative association between emotion‐oriented coping and relationship satisfaction is only significant for heterosexual women, and not for bisexual women; and (c) the negative association between distraction‐oriented coping and relationship satisfaction is significant for bisexual women, but not for heterosexual women.ConclusionThis study enhances our comprehension of the variations in the utilization of coping strategies and their effect on relationship satisfaction among individuals based on their sex and sexual orientation.ImplicationsThese findings might lead to improved interventions related to coping strategies for reducing the effect of stress in romantic relationships.

AbstractThe current study examined the respective role of stepfamily members' individual characteristics and their dyadic relationships in stepfamily members' perceptions of mattering to one another. Parents, stepparents, and adolescents from 86 stepfamilies participated. Applying social relations model analyses, several trends emerged regarding the relative importance of individual and dyadic factors. Parents' and adolescents' reports of mattering to one another were mainly driven by individual factors, whereas relational factors were important to understand the reports of mattering in which the stepparent was one of the dyad members. These findings contribute to stepfamily research by highlighting that stepfamily members' sense of belonging is at least partly a function of the interpersonal adaptation between the stepparent and other family members.

The actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) has been widely used for the analysis of pairs of individuals who interact with each other. The goal of this article is to detail in a nontechnical way how the APIM for binary or count outcomes can be implemented and how actor and partner effects can be estimated using generalized estimating equations (GEE) methodology. Both SPSS‐ and SAS‐syntax needed to estimate the model and the interpretation of the output are illustrated using data from a study exploring the effect of satisfaction with the relationship before the breakup on unwanted pursuit behavior after the breakup in formerly married partners. The use of this GEE method will allow researchers to test a wide array of research hypotheses.

AbstractIn contrast to mediation outcome studies, there is a lack of research on mediation processes. In response, this article explores mediators' styles and goals and their determinants, such as the mediators' professional background and client characteristics. Survey data of 359 divorce professionals were analyzed with the use of multiple regression analyses. Results showed that styles and goals are predominantly determined by professional‐related characteristics. Lawyer mediators and mental health mediators diverged in advisory and interest‐based styles but were unified in all goals we studied. The goals, self‐determination, advocacy, and processing emotions differentiated mediation from law and mental health practice. Implications are discussed.

AbstractThe present study examined the similarities and differences in couples' interactive behavior and interaction‐based cognition that emerged in comparisons of conflict and support interactions in marriage. In a laboratory experiment, 53 couples were randomly assigned to the conditions of a 2 (type of interaction: conflict vs. support) × 2 (initiator of interaction: man vs. woman) factorial design. Partners provided questionnaire data and participated in a joint interaction and video review task. The data revealed substantial behavioral similarities (i.e., some classes of validation/facilitation behaviors and neutral problem‐solving behaviors) as well as behavioral differences (i.e., some classes of invalidation/oppositional behaviors) between conflict and support interactions, controlling for levels of marital satisfaction. Partners' interaction‐based cognition (e.g., feeling understood, satisfied) was especially affected by classes of validation/facilitation behaviors and was consistently related to marital satisfaction. In broad terms, the impact of a particular behavior on partners' ongoing cognition did not depend on the interaction domain (conflict vs. support) in which the behavior occurred.