Living with an abusive step-mother

 Martin (2009) attributes this to the fact that step-mothers are more prone to depression than step-fathers due to overwhelming expectations on step-mothers.

While research generally tends to blame lack of gratitude on adopted children for relational problems between them and their step-mothers, in some cases lack of acceptance by step-mothers can make the home environment unbearable for adopted children. Below is a typical scenario of what goes on in some homes: