What is a stepfamily?

A stepfamily is any spousal union where at least one of the partners has a child, or children from a previous relationship.

Stepfamily Statistics:¹

• The family of the new millennium is a stepfamily.  There are now more stepfamilies than "original" or nuclear families.
• Fifty percent of all children under the age of 13 currently live in some form of a stepfamily.
• Approximately two thirds of all stepfamilies fail.
• Thirty percent of all stepfamilies fail within the first two years. Fifty percent fail within the first six years.²
• Children are seriously impacted by family breakdown.  Many experience persisting academic, social, emotional, financial, and relationship difficulties as a direct result of family breakdown.
• Traditional family therapy only helps about 30% of stepfamilies on the verge of breakdown.

The Good News:¹

• Most of the problems stepfamilies experience are rooted in the stepfamily situation, not in the people involved.
• When stepfamilies in difficulty are provided with information and guidance in addressing issues specific to the stepfamily situation, over 80% of them³ can go on to become stable, loving and healthy family environments.

1.    Stepfamily Statistics: The numbers tell the story. The Stepfamily Foundation NY

2.    Miller, Marla S.  The High Cost of Divorce.

3.    Over 95% of all couples who have taken Building Stepfamilies That Work, provided by the Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta since 1998, remain together today.