family theory

family definition

who they say they are

• strong emotional ties and durability of membership

• communication, even reactive, is designed to maintain integrity

nuclear family

2 parents, at least 1 child

deemed normal

extended family

cousins, aunts, uncles, g-parents…

3-generational family

kin, parents, grandparents

living in one household

dyad family

2 persons

• married couple, 1 parent 1 child…

common law family

habit and repute, not legally married

commune family

multiple families

other kinds of family types

single parent

step family

blended

no kin

polygamous

same sex

group marriage

general system theory

whole is greater than sum of its parts

if one part changes it affects the functioning of the whole

Bowlen’s system theory

family is interactive emotional unit

reciprocal roles, automatic communication and reactivity in predictable manner, esp when anxiety is high

8 interlocking concepts

8 interlocking concepts - construction of a family system

self-differentiation

multigenerational transmission

nuclear family emotional system

triangles

family projection process

sibling position

emotional cutoff

societal emotional process

Minuchin’s structural model

family structure constructed legally and emotionally

• hierarchy

• subsystems and boundaries

Duvall’s developmental framework

framework for issues normal families experience

9 family characteristics indicative of successful development

9 family characteristics indicative of successful development

individual home

satisfying way of earning money

mutually acceptable division of labor

continuity of mutually satisfying sex

open systems of communication

workable relationships with relatives

interacting with larger social community

competency in child-rearing

workable philosophy of life

McCubbin’s Resiliency model of family coping

most extensively studied for traumatic and family illness

event interacts with resources and with families perception of event to produce crisis

• pileup of demands

• family resources

• post crisis behavior

helps identify families at risk and family resilience

family assessment

characteristics of functional family

be sensitive to aspects of family structures due to social, cultural, ethnic differences

family hx

family APGAR (adapt, partnership, growth, affection, resolve)

nursing process

partnering essential part of nursing care

expect families to play major role in decision making

focus on family strengths, resources, competencies, values, and empowerments instead of dependency or deficits

nursing applications

orientating family

gathering assessment data

planning

implementation

• up to family to accept

• family narratives - tell the story

• incorporating family strengths

• commendations

• informational support

meeting needs of families with critically ill clients

proximity

information

support validating and normalizing emotions

family protective factors impacting children and adolescents

family cohesion

mutually supportive family relationships

parental coping skills and supervision

clear family organization

interaction and communication between family subsystems

direct communication about illness and its management

formal and informal supports and resources available to the family

family risk factors impacting children and adolescents

substance abuse

poor family management and parenting practices

poor maternal-childhood relationships

family and intra-familiar conflicts

psychological trauma related to diagnosis and treatment

common dysfunctional family patterns

poor peer relationships

acting out in adolescence

overprotective mother

supervise peace at any price

overly close 3 generational household

substance abuse

physical, sexual, mental… abuse

scapegoating

goals of family assessment

reduction of psychosocial and physical symptoms

inc in family resourcefulness or skills

improve individual psychological needs and family interventions

enhanced awareness of family patterns and their affects

selection, implementation, and evaluation of treatment