| A controversial study has found that | | | | case by case." |
| stepfathers are "more engaged, more | | | | |
| co-operative and shared more responsibility | | | | Lawrence Berger of the University of |
| than their biological counterparts did." | | | | Wisconsin-Madison, the study's author, said |
| Based in the United States, this research | | | | that mothers who participated in the study |
| negates the widely held belief that | | | | were more likely to have similar parenting |
| biological fathers are better suited to the | | | | perspectives with their children's |
| role of parenting their own children. | | | | stepfathers than their biological fathers. |
| | | | |
| Interviews were conducted with 2,098 urban | | | | In addition, the stepfathers too were more |
| mothers from the Fragile Families And Child | | | | open about discussing their wants and needs |
| Wellbeing study. The children involved in the | | | | as parental figures for the adopted child. |
| study had been born between 1998 and 2000 and | | | | |
| were five years old when the most recent | | | | Stepfathers need to make the extra effort to |
| interview was conducted. | | | | blend in with the family and to feel useful |
| | | | as a parent. That additional level of concern |
| Some professionals in the field believe that | | | | translates to a greater interest in |
| it would be scientifically erroneous to apply | | | | parenting. But biological fathers should |
| this study's findings to all family dynamics | | | | still work on being strong influences in |
| in which a stepfather is present. | | | | their children's lives as well. |
| | | | |
| Sydney psychologist Grant Brecht said, "There | | | | The ideal is for children to be surrounded by |
| is no reason why stepfathers cannot make | | | | as many loving and caring people as possible |
| incredibly good parents and they may be more | | | | to contribute to their healthy development. |
| attentive. But I think you have to look at it | | | | |