Children of Stepfamilies and the Family Relations Button Sort
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SMALL VOICES IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE: CHILDREN OF STEPFAMILIES AND THE FAMILY RELATIONS BUTTON SORT by CARISSMA D. NANCE COELHO A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES GRADUATE COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard ............................................................................... Joanne Crandall, PhD; Thesis Supervisor ............................................................................... Marvin J. McDonald, PhD; Second Reader & Thesis Coordinator ............................................................................... Audrey Ho, PhD, RPsych; External Examiner TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY June 2005 © Carissma D. Nance Coelho Small Voices ii Abstract Children are often the small voices in a family, especially when a biological family disintegrates and a new stepfamily forms. A projective technique, the Family Relations Button Sort (FRBS)TM (Carter, Piper, Ho & Ransby, 2000), is a way that children can express their perceptions of family dynamics and family members. Twenty-eight children from stepfamilies and 32 children from intact families, between the ages of 6 and 11, participated. The children were administered the FRBSTM and FACES IIITM for Children (Olson, Portner, & Lavee, 1985), and basic demographic information and a family genogram were obtained. Statistical analyses were done with small proportion tests, independent sample t-tests, and kappa approximations. Independent raters were able to discriminate between stepfamily children and intact family children. Children of stepfamilies choose larger numbers of buttons, as well as more white and primary coloured buttons. Intact family children are more likely to include pets. Post hoc analyses show that children from both family groups choose buttons for family members based on likes, associations, favourite colours, physical and personality attributes, as well as feelings. Button arrangements show close or distant relationships, and stepfamily children are more likely to omit a family member. Small Voices iii Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents...............................................................................................................iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION................................................................................. 1 Background to the Problem ........................................................................................... 2 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 2 The Family Relations Button Sort................................................................................. 3 Family Adaptability and Cohesion................................................................................ 4 Stepfamilies ................................................................................................................... 5 The Delimitations .......................................................................................................... 5 Definition of Terms ....................................................................................................... 6 Outline of the Research Problem................................................................................... 8 Justification of the Study ............................................................................................... 9 Summary........................................................................................................................ 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................... 11 History of Family in Canada ....................................................................................... 11 Stepfamilies ................................................................................................................. 14 Stepfamily Relationships............................................................................................. 16 Stepparent and stepchildren relationships............................................................. 16 Stepparent and biological parent relationships...................................................... 18 Stepsibling relationships. ...................................................................................... 19 Stepfamily Dynamics .................................................................................................. 20 Effects of Stepfamilies on Children............................................................................. 22 The Stepfamily Cycle .................................................................................................. 23 The Early, Middle and Later Stages of the Stepfamily Cycle..................................... 24 Stage 1................................................................................................................... 24 Stage 2................................................................................................................... 24 Stage 3................................................................................................................... 25 Stage 4................................................................................................................... 26 Stage 5................................................................................................................... 26 Stage 6................................................................................................................... 27 Stage 7................................................................................................................... 27 Four Different Types of Stepfamilies.......................................................................... 28 Aware families. ..................................................................................................... 28 Immersed families................................................................................................. 28 Mobilized families................................................................................................. 29 Action families.. .................................................................................................... 29 Working Through the Stages....................................................................................... 30 Projective Techniques.................................................................................................. 30 The history of projective techniques ..................................................................... 30 Problems associated with projective techniques ................................................... 32 Small Voices iv Benefits and usefulness of projective techniques.................................................. 33 The Button Game......................................................................................................... 36 Differences Among Children from “Normal” and “Clinical” Groups ........................ 37 Button based results .............................................................................................. 37 Family dynamics in normal and clinical samples ................................................. 38 The Family Relations Button Sort............................................................................... 38 The FRBS and children of separation and divorce ............................................... 40 FACES III.................................................................................................................... 41 Summary...................................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 43 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................ 43 Population and Sampling Procedures.......................................................................... 44 Participants............................................................................................................ 44 Testing materials ................................................................................................... 44 Procedure..................................................................................................................... 45 The recruitment ..................................................................................................... 45 The testing process................................................................................................ 46 Administration Procedures .......................................................................................... 47 The FRBS: button based protocol ......................................................................... 47 The FRBS: pattern based protocol ........................................................................ 48 Picture taking and demographics. ........................................................................