THE DYAD IS NOT ENOUGH—MEDIATING RELATIONSHIPS AS MECHANISMS FOR COHESION IN STEP RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE LIFE COURSE

The increasing prevalence of ageing stepfamilies and stepchildren’s potential to act as a source of support for older parents has increased the interest in intergenerational cohesion in step-relationships. Applying a life-course perspective, the purpose was to investigate the importance of linked lives on the intergenerational relationship between stepparents and their children over time. The study is based on qualitative interviews with older parents (n=13), aged 66–79 who have raised both biological (n=31) and step-children (n=28). Life-course interviews were used to follow the development of step-relationships over time. Interviews were analyzed using principles of analytical induction. The results revealed four central third party relationships that were central to cohesion in intergenerational step-relationships over time: 1) The intimate partner, 2) The non-residential parent, 3) The bridge-child, 4) Stepchildren-in-law. The conclusion is that if we are to understand the uniqueness of intergenerational step-relationships we cannot simply compare biological parent-child dyads with step-dyads, because the step-relationship is essentially a mediated relationship. The dyad is not enough!