When the Brady Bunch Grows Up: Step/Half- and Fullsibling Relationships in Adulthood

Using data from the 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households, this study compares contact with full- and step/halfsiblings in adulthood. Analysis shows that respondents keep in touch with their step/halfsibs, but see them significantly less often than their fullsibs. Generally, the same factors that encourage fullsib contact also encourage contact among step/halfsibs: respondent female, black, younger, and geographically closer. Having no fullsibs also encourages contact with step/halfsibs. Among those living in stepfamilies as children, length of time in the stepfamily and having a stepfather rather than a stepmother increase adult contact with step/halfsibs. Implications for the future are discussed.