[1]  A panel survey conducted jointly by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and Statistics Canada.

[2]  It is, for example, still impossible to distinguish stepfamilies from other two-parent families in the census.

[3]  Data problems meant that the analysis could not be extended to the third cycle.

[4]  These terms are used interchangeably, partly to acknowledge the fact that the mother's or father's new partner may not be perceived, or perceive themselves, as a stepparent.

[5]  Approximately 2800 children aged 0–13 years at Cycle 2.

[6]  To reduce costs, the longitudinal sample was reduced from 22,831 children (Cycle 1) to 16,903 (Cycle 2).

[7]  The sum of all these children whose parents were living together in 1996–97, or who had lived together at some point after their birth and then separated: 225+43+30+33+44+42=417/100=42%

[8]  Sample size (after exclusion of missing data): 1304 children whose father had formed a new union, and 1120 children whose mother had formed a new union.

[9]  The coefficient for stepmother families (child lives with father and spouse/partner) is not significant, possibly because of the small number of children in this situation.

[10]  PMK's education is the mother's education in approximately 90 percent of cases.

[11]  See Divorce Act s. 15, and various provincial and territorial legislation establishing obligations of those who “stand in the place of a parent.” Also referred to as In Loco Parentis laws.