General Social Survey - Family (GSS)

Family composition of stepfamily, category

Family composition refers to the presence or absence of children in a family. It also refers to the number of children.

Stepfamily refers to couple families with children that contain at least one biological or adopted child of only one married spouse or common-law partner whose birth or adoption preceded the current relationship. The family can contain such children of each married spouse or common-law partner. The family can also contain biological or adopted children from the current relationship. If the current married spouse or common-law partner has adopted the child(ren) of the other married spouse or common-law partner then it is no longer a stepfamily.

The data for this variable are reported using the following classifications and/or lists:

• Stepfamily Composition