Less research exists on the degree to which associations typically reported between fathering practices and child outcomes in intact families are evident in stepfamilies. Overall, research on parenting practices and child outcomes in stepfather versus intact families has found more negative adjustment among children in stepfamilies (Amato & Sobolewski, 2004). In a sample of 10–18 year old children living in step and intact families, children from stepfamilies reported higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors than children from intact families (Hetherington et al., 1999). Additionally, children growing up in divorced/stepfamilies displayed higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, poorer academic achievement, more behavioral and emotional problems, and lower social competence than their counterparts who were raised in intact families (Amato & Sobolewski, 2004; Hetherington, 2006). Nevertheless the more a stepfather is involved with his stepchildren, the fewer behavioral problems the child has and the better the child does in school (White & Gilbreth, 2001).
