Challenges of Living with Step Family: A Study on

the Experiences of Young Adult

(A Case study of Kathmandu Nepal)

A Dissertation

Submitted To:

Tribhuvan University Faculty of Humanities and Social Science,

Trichandra Multiple Campus.

The department of Rural Development of the partial fulfillment of the

requirements for Master's Degree of Arts in Rural Development

Submitted By

Sajina Nepal

2022
Table of Contents

Unit -1

1.1 Background of the Study:

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Research Question

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1.5 Significance of the Study

Unit – 2 Literature Review

Unit – 3 Research Methodologies

3.1 Research design

Unit – 4 Conclusions
 1.1 Background of the study:

The term 'step family' has been defined in many ways. According to

Mahoney (1993), a step family is a family unit in which one or both adult

partners have children from previous relationship. Similarly, a step family also

called a blended family, reconstituted family, or a complex family is a family

unit where one or both parents have children from a previous relationship, but

they have combined to form a new family (Kimberly, 2020). Around 51% of

complex family as per the general social survey and the census (Vézina, n.d.).

The above definitions are slightly different in understanding but are common in

nature.

Step family also called complex family formed in which both adult

partners have children from previous union living in the household and also

from the union household has been adopted in my study. The terms that are

used to define step family members are step parents i.e. non-biological parents,

step child i.e. non-biological child brought into the family by marriage or

cohabitation of biological parent, step siblings i.e. step sister or step brother,

half-brother i.e. one who shared biological parents. Many step children can be

fulltime or part-time members of the household, as they move between two step

family households, which were formed as a result of both their parents

establishing new relationships (Mcgee, 2012). Therefore, in my study step

children were part-time members of the step family.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Children living with stepfamily generally are at greater risk for problems than

are children living with both of their parents (Coleman, 2004). Additionally,

children's voices often are not heard (Smart, 2005). The existing literature

concludes that children are often affected the most by joining a step family.

Recognizing the validity of children's experiences is treating children with

greater respect. It is also the starting point for hearing what they have to say.

But to dismay many researchers have not taken this as a central focus of much

research (Wolfe, 2015). Considering the literature, it says children living with

stepfamily are affected as well their voices are not heard. This means children

living with stepfamily are in problem as it is seen whether they are of small or

young age. Likewise, the study wants to identify the existing challenges on the

basis of experience of young adult, as member of the step family. The topic is

worth researchable as the study seeks to explore on the issue of challenges of

young adult while living in step family.

1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objectives of the study are as mentioned below:

 To explore the challenges faced by young adult while living with step

family.

 To explore the causes of living with step parents.

1.4 Research Questions

 What challenges do young adult face while living in step family?

 Why are they living with their step parents?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This research is rare piece of work among the academic research area. This

study will attempt to explore the challenges of young adult while living with

step family. It will also be helpful to extend the knowledge regarding this issue.

The study area is selected Kathmandu Metropolitan City to undertake the field

based be research study. There are many causes behind selecting Kathmandu as

my study area such as the increasing rate of polygamy and challenges(physical

and mental) children and young adults suffering from it, this study will be

helpful in developing ideas and strategies which will be helpful for the NGOs

and INGOs as they deal with similar problems in the society. It may also help

to develop social work skills and strategies to deal with the children living in

step families. My research also might be helpful as a reference for other

researchers exploring the similar topic.

2. Literature review:

The purpose of this chapter is to review the existing literature. This chapter

begins with the prior research related to this study then, it tries to explore

young adult's challenges faced in the step family. Furthermore, it has also

included the attachment theory that supports to the study of my area.

There are many journal articles that highlight on the issue to step family.

Similar to this, I got various research articles that discuss on the challenges of

step family. Step family members encounter many positive experiences, but

they also face with many challenges. These challenges include relationships

between family members, unrealistic expectations, and cultural myths (M,

2017). Similar to this, a family is a place where an individual child learns and

in case of step family a child will be incapable and is affected deeply by the

stress in their families and this has an effect in most parts of their personality

and performance (Njoroge, 2018). This information has helped me comparing

the findings of my study.

Particularly, on the issue while interpreting on the themes of mistreatment.

Likewise, Amato investigate how children in households with both biological

parents differ from children in households with only one biological parent. He

shows that children growing up with two continuously married parents are less

likely to experience a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and social problems,

not only during childhood but also in adulthood (Amato, 2005).

A child's problems do not exist in a vacuum; they exist, and will likely need to

be addressed, within the context of the family (Mckenzie, 2016). This

information has helped me in identify this sort of therapy is lack here within

family. According to the authors, five years after divorce, one-third of the

children were adjusting well and had good relationships with both parents.

Another group of children (more than one-third of the sample) were clinically

depressed, were doing poorly in school, had difficulty maintaining friendships,

experienced chronic problems such as sleep disturbances and continued to hope

that their parents would reconcile (Amato, 2005). Likewise, it has helped me in

comparing the findings in the issue of problem of getting education.

3. Methodology

Research methodology is the systematic theoretical analysis of the methods

applied to a field of study. It comprises the theoretical analysis of the body of

methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge. It carries

specific procedure of techniques use to identify select, process and analysis

information about the topic. Typically, it encompasses concepts such as

paradigm, theoretical method, phases and quantitative or qualitative

techniques. A methodology does not set out to provide solutions. It is

therefore not the same as a method. Instead, a methodology offers the

theoretical under pinning for understanding which method set of methods or

best practices can be applied to specific case for example, to calculate a

specific result. A field of applied statistics, survey methodology studies the

sampling of individual units from a population and the associated survey data

collection techniques, such as questionnaire construction and methods for

improving the number and accuracy of responses to surveys.

3.1 Research Design

Both exploratory and descriptive research design will be applied. It is

exploratory because efforts have been made to explore their family

background and cause and impact. Beside it is descriptive because age, sex

ethnicity etc have been described. The data collected with the help of

different tools and techniques are both qualitative and quantitative data.
4 Conclusions

This chapter will comprise of major findings of the study in concise form. This

study is aimed to explore the challenges of young adults while living with step

family. The finding will be based on the responds from the respondents from

different families. The young adults living with their step parents are more

likely to face issues regarding physical and mental health along with social and

educational aspects.

As the polygamy culture is increasing and children and their young adults are

forced to live with their step parents and step family. This is causing them so

many challenges in their living. Due to it many of the adults are suffering

physical and mental traumas and disorders. Studies and researches show this

has become a burning issue world widely and Nepal also has the same scenario.

The study area for my research is Kathmandu Metropolitan city. The whole

study will be based on the experiences the young adults have been through

while living with their step parents. And also this research will be helpful for

those organization and policy formation and implementing bodies of the nation.
References:

Acock, A. C. (1996). Family structure, family process, and adolescent well-

being. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 6, 457-488.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com

8Amato, P. R. (2005). The impact of family formation changes on the

cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of the next generation. In Future of

Children (Vol. 15, Issue 2, pp. 75–96). https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2005.0012

Coleman, L. H. G. and M. (2004). Effect of step family living on children.