How Prevalent Are Stepfamilies?

When you're in the moment it is hard to rely on numbers, but it is important to understand the high level statistics to know that a) you're not alone and b) to help you make smart decisions. 

So, How Prevalent are Stepfamilies?

• Approximately one-third of all weddings in America today form stepfamilies (demographic estimate, Deal). In 2001, 38% of all US marriages were remarriages for one or both partners (15% for both; 23% for one) (Wendy Manning, personal communication Jan 2010, National Center for Family and Marriage Research).
• 40% of married couples with children (i.e., families) in the US are step couples (at least one partner had a child from a previous relationship before marriage; this includes full and part-time residential stepfamilies and those with children under and/or over the age of 18). The percentage of all married couple households is 35%. (Karney, Garvan, & Thomas, 2003)