What are the Main Factors Causing Domestic Violence against Stepchildren?

Erkin Hasanli

General Education Program, ADA University

WRIT - 1202 - 20207: Writing & Info Literacy II

Ms. Aygun Huseynli

May 25, 2021

 What are the Main Factors Causing Domestic Violence against Stepchildren?

There is a popular belief that stepparents are inclined to use domestic violence against

stepchildren, who are more likely to be the victims of violence in comparison to children living

with their genetic parents. While this belief is based on common reasoning that stepparents are

usually ignorant towards children that do not carry their blood, the key determinants causing

domestic violence and child abuse against stepchildren may indeed vary. In this paper, the term

domestic violence refers to the use of violence or abuse within the home against other family

members. Moreover, while the term stepparent is used to define a stepfather and a stepmother,

who are individuals married to one of the genetic parents; the term stepchild is used to define the

child of a spouse’s from the previous marriage. In general, different types of domestic violence

might be practiced against stepchildren and the main violence categories include neglect, and

physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. However, genetic children can also be the victim of

domestic violence; therefore, it should be questioned whether stepchildren are more likely to be

the victims of domestic violence in comparison to children living with their two genetic parents.

In regard to this idea, this paper will conduct a literature review and study the following research

question: What are the main factors causing domestic violence against stepchildren and whether

stepchildren suffer from domestic violence more than genetic children? Hereby, the scope of this

study is concentrated on researching domestic violence against stepchildren and genetic children

based on conducting a comparative analysis.

First of all, the existing literature suggests contradicting findings about the use of

violence against stepchildren. According to Daly and Wilson (1996), stepchildren should not be

overrepresented regarding child abuse. They have presented the comparison of domestic violence

imposed on children by stepparents and genetic parents and by comparing different cases about
violence against children, Daly and Wilson (1996) have tried to provide an unbiased analysis to

explain that both genetic and stepparents can apply excessive forms of violence against children.

Hereby, the researchers reject the popular belief about the overrepresentation of child abuse

against stepchildren and argue that not all stepparents are abusive and genetic parents can be

abusive too. Moreover, a research study conducted by Temrin and others (2004) has also

presented similar research results. The researchers have questioned the presumption of

evolutionary psychologists by studying whether stepchildren are more likely to be the victims of

domestic violence in comparison to children living with their two genetic parents (Temrin et al.,

2004). The researchers have tested this idea by studying the data collected in Sweden over the

period of 35 years (1965-1999) and concluded that research findings do not support this

statement (Temrin et al., 2004). Indeed, the research findings show that genetic children are more

likely to be abused in comparison to stepchildren. Nevertheless, the findings of this study are

based on the cases examined in one of the world’s most developed countries during the last 20 th

century, therefore, they may not be applicable to all countries.

Moreover, another research study conducted by Giles-Sims and Finkelhor (1984) also

concludes that the popular belief about stepparents’ abusive behavior towards children than do

not carry their genetics may not be true in all cases. Giles-Sims and Finkelhor (1984) have

studied whether the presumptions about child abuse in stepfamilies match with factual data. By

evaluating five theories of abuse in stepfamilies, which are social-evolutionary, normative,

stress, selection, and resource theories, the research concludes that collected data do not support

the presumed relationship between the stepfamily structure and child abuse (Giles-Sims &

Finkelhor, 1984).
 Last but not least, Adler-Baeder (2006) has also discussed stepchildren as the

overrepresented victims of physical abuse in stepfamilies. By examining the findings of the

previously conducted researches, Adler-Baeder (2006) states that most of the existing sources are

outdated literature and there is a need to conduct future researches on studying the process of

family interactions to find out whether stepchildren usually suffer from physical abuse by their

stepparents. In this article, the author provides guidance to understand why most sources written

about the physical abuse of stepchildren are incomprehensive and even inadequate.

On the other hand, one of the recent book chapters written by Debowska and others

(2020) reflects positive results regarding the use of violence by stepparents against non-genetic

children. Debowska and others (2020) conclude that stepparents are more likely to abuse

children in comparison to genetic parents. Moreover, the book explains that while genetic

parents tend to avoid harming their children, most stepparents can use excessive physical

violence against children, who may eventually die (Debowska et al., 2020, p. 22). The authors

explain that stepparents’ tendency to abuse children may be related to their unwillingness to

invest feelings and resources in children that do not carry their genetics (p. 22). The chapter also

states that abused stepchildren can develop mental and emotional health problems if the effects

of violence are not taken care of by social-care professionals (p. 23). Furthermore, according to

the research findings of a study conducted by Stewart (2010), family relations between

stepparents and non-genetic children are usually more negative while the use of domestic

violence is higher against the children. According to Stewart (2010), when a stepchild has a toxic

personality and there is no friendly communication with the stepparent, it is likely that the case

of child abuse will be higher in that family. Moreover, Stewart (2010) has found that domestic

violence against stepchildren usually becomes higher when the income level of the family is
lower. Hereby, there are both positive and negative findings regarding one of the most popular

beliefs that stepchildren are more likely to be the victim of domestic violence.

To move on with the key factors causing domestic violence against stepchildren, the

existing literature suggests different findings. According to Schmeeckle (2007), numerous

factors that can contribute to the development of violent attitudes towards stepchildren. The

researcher has outlined the key factors contributing to domestic violence against stepchildren as

the following: parental psychopathology, parents’ childhood experiences of abuse, parenting

stress, child age, parent age, and child disabilities (Schmeeckle, 2007). Moreover, according to

Daly and Wilson (1996), the educational and socio-cultural background of parents and their

relationship with children are the key factors affecting the level of the abusive relationship

between stepparents and stepchildren. Besides, according to the research findings of White and

Booth (1985), when stepparents experience financial problems or live in poverty, do not have a

high level of emotional intelligence, have childhood memories about getting abused by their

family members, and have a low educational background, the chances are high that there will be

domestic violence against stepchildren.

Hereby, this paper has reviewed existing literature regarding the research question: What

are the main factors causing domestic violence against stepchildren and whether stepchildren

suffer from domestic violence more than genetic children? The literature review shows that there

are contradicting findings about the overrepresentation of stepchildren as the victims of domestic

violence. As most sources argue that stepchildren are likely to be the victims of domestic

violence similar to genetic children, the main focus should be placed on understanding the key

factors leading to child abuse in families. The literature review shows that most of the studies

conducted on the research topic present conclusions by studying small sample sizes, focusing on
studying the household structures while failing at considering the relationships between victim

and offender. Therefore, further study will be conducted to fill this gap in the existing literature

References:

Adler-Baeder, F. (2006). What do We Know about the Physical Abuse of Stepchildren? Journal
of Divorce & Remarriage, 44 (3), 67-81. doi:10.1300/J087v44n03_05. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241745781_What_Do_We_Know_About_the_
Physical_Abuse_of_Stepchildren

Debowska, A., Hales, G., Boduszek, D. (2020). Violence against Children by Stepparents. The
Sage Handbook of Domestic Violence, 1-29. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340828678_Violence_against_children_by_ste
pparents

Daly, M., & Wilson, M. (1996). Violence against Stepchildren. Current Directions in
Psychological Science, 5(3), 77-81. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org.ada.idm.oclc.org/stable/20182397

Giles-Sims, J., & Finkelhor, D. (1984). Child Abuse in Stepfamilies. Family Relations, 33(3),
407-413. Doi: 10.2307/584711

Stewart, S. (2010). The Characteristics and Well-Being of Adopted Stepchildren. Family

Relations, 59(5), 558-571. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org.ada.idm.oclc.org/stable/40929637

Schmeeckle, M. (2007). Gender Dynamics in Stepfamilies: Adult Stepchildren's Views. Journal

of Marriage and Family, 69(1), 174-189. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org.ada.idm.oclc.org/stable/4622424

Temrin, H., Johanna N., & Helena S. (2004). Are Stepchildren Over-Represented as Victims of
Lethal Parental Violence in Sweden? Proceedings: Biological Sciences, 271(Supplement
3), S124-S126. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ada.idm.oclc.org/stable/4142577
White, L., & Booth, A. (1985). The Quality and Stability of Remarriages: The Role of

Stepchildren. American Sociological Review, 50(5), 689-698. doi:10.2307/2095382