Stepfathers and Adolescent Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review

Stepfathers may influence their children’s development differently from either biological fathers or stepmothers due to differences in biological relatedness, social expectations, and relevant family processes; however, to date, little is known about the impact of stepfathers despite the increasing diversification of families. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on the connection between growing up in stepfather families and adolescent well-being. Findings from 29 empirical studies suggested that in between-group comparisons, adolescents with stepfathers demonstrated less optimal socioemotional and behavioral outcomes than those from two-biological-parent families. However, within-group examinations of adolescents in stepfather families indicated that positive stepfather involvement and stepfather-stepchild closeness benefit adolescent well-being. Maternal involvement and mother-stepfather relationships may moderate the influences of stepfathers. These findings have implications for future research and practices involving stepfather families and adolescent development.