Interactive Presentation English
Japanese-International Blended Families and the Impact at Home and School
Since the 1960s, the percentage of blended families, also known as stepfamilies or blendfamilies in Japan, has steadily increased from about 11% of the population to 26% (Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office, 2021). Previous research on blended families has centered on mental health, cultural views, values of grandparenting, mothering, and fathering and family policies and law (Sugimoto & Yokoyama, 2017; Nozawa, 2020). However, there is limited English research about the effects of international-Japanese blended families and education. This presentation adopts Nielsen’s (1993) model to study these effects on students in the Osaka region. It focuses on three questions: 1. What factors affect grades and behavior after a separation? 2. How are students’ attitudes toward separation and family members assessed? 3. What ways can schools facilitate students’ adjustment and academic performance after their parents separate or re-marry/re-partner? Surveys were created and sent to children in international-Japanese blended families. This data will be analyzed using Conventional Content Analysis (Krippendorff, 1989; Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). Preliminary findings will be presented at Living On The Edge 2022: Finding Home. It is also hoped that discussions will contribute to the development of this research.
Since the 1960s, the percentage of blended families, also known as stepfamilies or blendfamilies in Japan, has steadily increased from about 11% of the population to 26% (Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office, 2021). Previous research on blended families has centered on mental health, cultural views, values of grandparenting, mothering, and fathering and family policies and law (Sugimoto & Yokoyama, 2017; Nozawa, 2020). However, there is limited English research about the effects of international-Japanese blended families and education. How do blended families - including those of the presenters - find their home, in a new school system and the broader Japanese society? This presentation adopts Nielsen’s (1993) model to study these effects on students in the Osaka region. It focuses on factors and experiences of students from blended families and the impact on their lives and school. Surveys were created and sent to children in international-Japanese blended families. This data will be analyzed using Conventional Content Analysis (Krippendorff, 1989; Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). Preliminary findings will be presented at Living On The Edge 2022: Finding Home. It is also hoped that discussions will contribute to the development of this research.