Date of Conferral

11-3-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Jonnie Lane

Abstract

Mental health challenges for stepmothers are well-documented. Yet, questions remain on why these challenges are prevalent and whether there is a connection to role ambiguity and confusion that stepmothers face. Knowing this information could help counselors better serve blended families. Grounded in feminist and family system theories, this study used a quantitative, non-experimental research design to determine whether the roles of stepmothers predict symptoms of depression and anxiety (RQ 1) and whether relationship satisfaction predicts symptoms of depression and anxiety (RQ 2). Purposive sampling was used to anonymously survey 92 stepmothers living in the United States and living with their partner for at least 6 months. Results of the multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between relationship satisfaction and symptoms of depression (p = 0.014) and anxiety (p = 0.013). Furthermore, the results showed a statistically significant relationship between stepmother roles and symptoms of depression (p = 0.010) but failed to show a relationship between roles and symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.105). This research confirmed a potential predictive relationship between relationship satisfaction and symptoms of depression and anxiety but could only confirm a potential predictive relationship between stepmother roles and symptoms of depression. Future research should focus on the predictive relationship between these variables for stepmothers and biological mothers in blended families. Counselor education programs can potentially use the outcomes of this study to further educate students on the specific experiences of stepmothers in the blended family by updating and adding curriculum related to blended families to their programs.

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