ch.13 cgd

Family (general concept)

a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, adoption, or shared living arrangements

Forms of family

different structures that define how families are organized

Nuclear family

a husband and wife living with their biological and/or adopted children

Extended family

includes nuclear family members plus other relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins

Marital desertion

one partner leaves the family without formal divorce

Divorce (historical vs modern)

shift from desertion to legal divorce

Stepfamilies formation

families formed when divorced individuals remarry

Family structures today

diverse living arrangements in modern families

Stability of living arrangements

degree to which children experience consistent family structure

Single-parent family

family with only one parent raising a child

Characteristics of single-parent families

often include economic challenges and increased responsibilities

Effects of poverty on children

negative impact on development, opportunities, and well-being

Divorce (process)

a series of changes over time rather than a single event

Age at divorce

child’s developmental stage influences impact of divorce

Impact of divorce on children

emotional, behavioral, and social effects

Physical custody

where the child lives

Sole custody

child lives with one parent

Joint/shared physical custody

child lives with both parents at different times

Legal custody

decision-making authority over the child

Coparenting

sharing parenting responsibilities between two or more people

Characteristics of effective coparenting

cooperation, communication, and mutual support

Stepfamilies and Blended Families

Stepfamily

family where at least one adult has children from a previous relationship

Blended family

family combining children from previous relationships and possibly new children

Boundary ambiguity

uncertainty about family roles and relationships

Stepfamily task (honor past)

respecting previous family relationships

Stepfamily task (work together)

cooperating despite differences

Stepfamily task (cohesiveness)

building unity through daily interactions

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Custodial grandparents

grandparents responsible for raising grandchildren

Reasons for grandparent caregiving

parental absence, work demands, or family problems

Effects on grandparents

emotional, financial, and physical strain

Gay and lesbian parenting

parenting by same-sex couples

Research on gay/lesbian parents

children show similar outcomes to those with heterosexual parents

Transracial adoption

adoption across racial or ethnic lines

Importance of personal history

helping adoptees understand their background

Open adoption

adoption where birth and adoptive families have contact

Foster care system

temporary care system for children removed from their homes

Effects of foster care

can include instability but also protection and support

Family systems

families as dynamic systems where relationships influence one another

Family system components

adult relationship, parent-child relationship, sibling relationship

Maternal employment

mothers working outside the home

Work-family balance

managing responsibilities between job and family

Effects of maternal employment

varies depending on context and support

Changing role of fathers

increased involvement in childcare

Sibling relationships

interactions between brothers and sisters

Longest-lasting relationship

siblings often have lifelong connections

Sibling closeness and conflict

relationships include both positive and negative interactions

Special role of siblings

unique influence on social development

Nonshared environment

different experiences within the same family