Family, Sexuality and Mental Health

Vocabulary flashcards defining key concepts surrounding family structures, sexuality, gender identity, and mental health.

Family

A network of people connected through kinship, marriage, adoption or enduring caregiving commitments.

Household

A group consisting of people who share a residence, some of whom may be unrelated.

Nuclear family

A family form consisting of parents and children.

Extended family

Relatives across generations who share support.

Blended family

A family structure where partners bring children from earlier relationships.

Kinship care

A family arrangement where relatives provide family care.

Sexuality

A lifelong aspect of human experience involving bodies, attraction, intimacy, pleasure, relationships and reproduction.

Sex

Biological and physiological characteristics, featuring natural variation.

Gender

Social roles and expectations associated with being a man, woman, or other gender.

Gender identity

A person's internal experience of gender.

Sexual orientation

An individual's patterns of attraction.

Gender expression

A person's outward presentation, such as through clothing or manner.

Mental health

A person's well-being and capacity to cope, learn, work and participate in community life.

Mental disorder

A clinically significant disturbance in thinking, emotional regulation or behavior, usually with distress or impaired functioning.

Protective relationships

Relational dynamics featuring reliable care, calm communication and safe routines that support coping.

Agender

An identity describing people who experience little or no sense of gender.

Restrictive gender norms

Rigid expectations—such as 'boys must never cry' or 'girls must carry all care work'—that may increase strain or discourage help-seeking.

Gender-inclusive society

A society that actively supports people of all genders, including agender people.