ステップファミリーでの生活経験のある青年期女性２名との面接結果を提示し，ステップファミリーにおける親子関係のあり方について，子どもの視点からの検討を行った。提示された２事例では，再婚により新しい関係が始まった時点から，継親との関係は対照的に展開していった。１例目は継父との関係を築くことには消極的で，継父を“ 単なる同居人” としか見ていないこと，２例目では継父との関係は初めから肯定的であり，自分の親として認知していることが明らかとなった。いずれの事例においても別れた実親への思いが整理されないままであり，子どもの心の成長という点から，別れた実親をめぐる体験についても家族間で整理される必要性が検討された。親の再婚後に生ずる同居する親との関係の変化に注目することの重要性が指摘された。

Two stepdaughters were interviewed about their perception of relationships between their parents and them. The results showed that there was a strong contrast in the way their relationships had developed. The one subject was negative about building a relationship with her stepfather and thought of him only as her mother’s spouse and nothing more. The other subject had a positive relationship with her stepfather from the start of their new life and accepted him as her father. In both cases their feelings about their natural father had not been worked through. It implied that it was necessary that the emotional experience with their natural father should be worked through among their family members. It was found to be important to examine carefully the changes in the relationship with the resident natural parent.

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