For the majority of 21st-century children, the traditional experience of “one father at a time” has been replaced by the experience of two fathers (a stepfather and noncustodial biological father) at the same time. Given the inadequate institutionalization of either fathering role, this literature review encapsulates common defining themes and concerns. The implications of these results for family counselors seeking to intervene with stepfamilies, and their constituent components, are offered as are possibilities for future research.
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