Exploring the Difficulties of stepmothers In the Hong Kong Chinese Society

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgement i

CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION

1.1 : Rationale for studying stepfamilies 1

1.2 : Scope of the study 2

1.3 : Objectives 4

1.4 : Significance of the study 5

1.5 : Organization of the study 5

CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 : Difficulties of stepfamilies 7

2.2 : Difficulties of stepmothers 8

2.3 : Chinese cultural factors that may contribute to the stepmother's difficulties

2.4 : Structural factors that may contribute to the stepmother’s difficulties

2.5 : Cognitive factors that may contribute to the stepmother’s difficulties

2.6 : Summary 31

CHAPTER 3 : CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 : Conceptual framework of the study 32

3.2 : The method of data collection 33

3.3 : Questionnaire construction 35

3.4 : Recruitment of Informants 36

3.5 : Pilot Study 39

3.6 : Interview Process 39

3.7 : Data Analysis 40

3.8 : Summary 41

CHAPTER 4 : FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 : General profile of the informants 42

4.2 : Stepmother’s difficulties with relation to cultural and social factors

4.3 : Stepmother’s difficulties with relation to structural factors

4.4 : Stepmother’s difficulties with relation to unrealistic expectations

CHAPTER 5 : CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

5.1 : Conclusion 98

5.2 : Limitations of the study 102

5.3 : Recommendations 104

5.4 : Final Remarks 109

Bibliography 110

Appendix 1 : Face Sheet of Interviewees

Appendix 2 : Interview Guide