Abstract
Challenges and conflicts experienced by stepfamilies are well documented, but researchers are increasingly focused on communication processes that facilitate resilience in these relationships. In other contexts, communicating forgiveness has been linked to relational healing after transgressions or adversity. In the current study, the researchers sought to understand how stepchildren talk about the role of forgiveness in the development of positive adult stepchild–stepparent relationships. Data were drawn from interviews with adult stepchildren who have a positive relationship with a stepparent. Following an interpretive analysis, the researchers identified five themes representing the ways forgiveness was conceptualized and enacted in these positive stepchild–stepparent relationships: forgiveness as (a) healing family connections, (b) explicit negotiation, (c) maturation and acceptance, (d) a response to vulnerability and compassion, and (e) evidence of relational growth. Theoretical and practical applications for understanding and fostering resilient stepfamilies and the role of forgiveness are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Applied Communication Research |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- forgiveness
- qualitative analysis
- relational discourse
- resilience
- Stepfamily
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Communication
- Language and Linguistics
Cite this
Discourses of forgiveness and resilience in stepchild–stepparent relationships. / Waldron, Vincent; Braithwaite, Dawn O.; Oliver, Bailey M.; Kloeber, Dayna N.; Marsh, Jaclyn.
In: Journal of Applied Communication Research, 01.01.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Discourses of forgiveness and resilience in stepchild–stepparent relationships
AU - Waldron, Vincent
AU - Braithwaite, Dawn O.
AU - Oliver, Bailey M.
AU - Kloeber, Dayna N.
AU - Marsh, Jaclyn
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Challenges and conflicts experienced by stepfamilies are well documented, but researchers are increasingly focused on communication processes that facilitate resilience in these relationships. In other contexts, communicating forgiveness has been linked to relational healing after transgressions or adversity. In the current study, the researchers sought to understand how stepchildren talk about the role of forgiveness in the development of positive adult stepchild–stepparent relationships. Data were drawn from interviews with adult stepchildren who have a positive relationship with a stepparent. Following an interpretive analysis, the researchers identified five themes representing the ways forgiveness was conceptualized and enacted in these positive stepchild–stepparent relationships: forgiveness as (a) healing family connections, (b) explicit negotiation, (c) maturation and acceptance, (d) a response to vulnerability and compassion, and (e) evidence of relational growth. Theoretical and practical applications for understanding and fostering resilient stepfamilies and the role of forgiveness are discussed.
AB - Challenges and conflicts experienced by stepfamilies are well documented, but researchers are increasingly focused on communication processes that facilitate resilience in these relationships. In other contexts, communicating forgiveness has been linked to relational healing after transgressions or adversity. In the current study, the researchers sought to understand how stepchildren talk about the role of forgiveness in the development of positive adult stepchild–stepparent relationships. Data were drawn from interviews with adult stepchildren who have a positive relationship with a stepparent. Following an interpretive analysis, the researchers identified five themes representing the ways forgiveness was conceptualized and enacted in these positive stepchild–stepparent relationships: forgiveness as (a) healing family connections, (b) explicit negotiation, (c) maturation and acceptance, (d) a response to vulnerability and compassion, and (e) evidence of relational growth. Theoretical and practical applications for understanding and fostering resilient stepfamilies and the role of forgiveness are discussed.
KW - forgiveness
KW - qualitative analysis
KW - relational discourse
KW - resilience
KW - Stepfamily
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U2 - 10.1080/00909882.2018.1530447
DO - 10.1080/00909882.2018.1530447
M3 - Article
JO - Journal of Applied Communication Research
JF - Journal of Applied Communication Research
SN - 0090-9882
ER -