Family Social Capital and Role Redefinitions in Italian Stepfamilies From the Perspective of Young Adult Children: A Mixed‐Methods Study

In the past decade, Italy has experienced a surge in separations and divorces, resulting in an increase in second marriages and stepfamilies. However, little attention has been paid to family dynamics in the ‘divorcescapes’ from the perspective of children in the Italian context. This study explores the social capital of stepfamilies, considering their configurations, reciprocity and trust between the different stepfamily members, while analysing the redefinition of roles and expectations in stepfamilies. A mixed-methods study with an explanatory sequential design was conducted, and 36 young adults who had experienced the separation of their parents during childhood were interviewed. Three types of stepfamilies emerged from the analysis: integrated, restricted and conflictual. The analysis allowed the identification of specific characteristics of each type of stepfamilies in terms of social capital at the structural dimensions of networks and the quality of the ties developed (including role redefinition). The results suggest that the processes of couple dissolution do not always imply a deficit of family social capital, but sometimes can even indicate the opposite due to the diverse and complex types of relations among stepfamily members. In many cases, this can lead to enrichment by widening and intensifying family networks that could benefit the children. This study thus supports the thesis that children's and family's understanding of everyday life practices is crucial to ensure individualized intervention from social professionals.