College of Humanities

Ms Keiasha Harisingh’s study has earned her a Master’s in Educational Psychology.

Navigating Adolescence in Blended Families

The emotional rollercoaster of adolescence is tough enough without the complexities of a newly blended family.

Offering a fresh perspective in a dissertation titled: “Experiences of Adolescents Transitioning into Blended Families from a Selected High School in the Umlazi District”, master’s graduate in Educational Psychology Ms Keiasha Harisingh delved into the often-overlooked struggles of teens in blended families. The study offers revelatory insights and heart-wrenching stories that illustrate just how challenging these transitions can be.

‘During my matric year, a close friend was suddenly thrust into a blended family arrangement following her parents unexpected divorce. I saw my friend struggling, not only emotionally, but academically and socially as well. At the time I felt helpless in trying to help her navigate these turbulent changes as I could only sympathise and offer a shoulder for her to cry on.’

She witnessed similar situations as a student teacher. ‘During teaching practice in the Umlazi district, I noticed that many learners who struggled academically and emotionally were from blended families. What struck me was how little psychosocial support these learners received, and it inspired me to dig deeper into their experiences.’

In her research, Harisingh identified several key challenges adolescents face when transitioning into blended families. ‘Communication was a major issue. Many of my participants felt blindsided by their parents’ announcements about remarriage or new family dynamics. They wished their parents had communicated more effectively, gradually easing them into the changes.

‘A lot of the adolescents expressed feeling helpless, like they had no say in the matter,’ Harisingh noted. ‘They weren’t consulted about meeting their stepparents or stepsiblings, and that made them feel even more alienated.’

Emotional regulation also emerged as a significant challenge. ‘Adolescents often didn’t know how to cope with feelings of anger, resentment, and betrayal. Some even felt abandoned, with their parents so focused on the new marriage that they didn’t have time for them.’

The research also highlighted the differences between adolescents in blended families and those in traditional or nuclear families. According to Harisingh, in nuclear families, bonds are formed from birth, but adolescents in blended families have to form relationships with new family members later in life, which can be difficult. She highlighted the issue of adjusting to new rules and routines, and in some cases, these adolescents have to live in two separate homes, adding to the complexity.

Poignant vignettes from the research included a boy who had to drop out of school at the age of 13 to care for his terminally ill mother. He was eventually adopted into a blended family, and his stepmother enrolled him in school; however, he struggled. Another participant’s parents were drug addicts. Besides having an abusive stepfather, his biological father only surfaced to steal things for drug money, and his mother barely left her room.

On a more positive note, Harisingh also uncovered factors that contributed to smoother transitions for some adolescents, with effective communication being key, ‘Those who had smoother transitions often had parents who communicated openly about the changes and gave their children time to adjust, and some control in a situation that felt overwhelming.’

Emotional support was another crucial factor. Participants who had smoother transitions often had parents or stepparents who regularly checked in with them and helped them cope with their emotions.

Emphasising the important role schools and educators can play in supporting adolescents transitioning into blended families, Harisingh said that educators in loco parentis need training to provide the necessary psychosocial support during these challenging transitions.

A surprising finding was the positive relationships some adolescents built with their stepparents. ‘We’re used to seeing stepparents portrayed negatively in mainstream media, but I found that some adolescents saw their new stepparents as a silver lining, becoming an important source of stability and support.

Looking to pursue her PhD, Harisingh says she is deeply grateful to her parents for their unwavering support and encouragement and her supervisor, Dr Ncamisile Mthiyane, as well as her late grandfather who was her hero and inspiration for the study.