Open AccessWeekend Warriors: Autonomy-Connection, Openness-Closedness, and Coping Strategies of Marital Partners in Nonresidential Stepfamilies
Author(s) -
Becky L. DeGreeff,
Ann Burnett
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2009.1371
Subject(s) - stepfamily , openness to experience , autonomy , dialectic , psychology , grounded theory , coping (psychology) , social psychology , qualitative research , developmental psychology , variety (cybernetics) , sociology , clinical psychology , social science , epistemology , political science , law , philosophy , artificial intelligence , computer science
The purpose of this study was to examine the classic and unique relationship tensions marital partners of non-residential stepfamilies experience. Grounded in relational dialectical theory, transcripts from interviews of five non-residential stepfamily couples were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to search for and identify autonomy-connection and openness-closedness dialectical tensions and coping strategies utilized by the participants. These relational dialectical tensions were illustrated in every interview. Tensions were present not only between the relationship partners, but also in regard to the non-residential children. Participants utilized a variety of coping strategies to deal with the relationship tensions experienced in their marriage within a non-residential stepfamily setting.