Using a national sample of Americans, this study compares the effects of marital and parental statuses on three domains of well-being (marital quality, parental satisfaction, and global life satisfaction) by examining three types of parents: first-married biological parents, remarried biological parents, and stepparents. The results of a multiple classification analysis show that first-married biological parents report greater satisfaction with parenting than do the other two groups. On the other hand, the three types of parents reported similar levels of marital and global life satisfaction. These results are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.
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