Chapter 4-The Influence of Family on Developing a Lifestyle

The family has been defined as a basic human social system that involves commitment and interaction among its members.

Family composition and cultural backgrounds have changed dramatically in the United States during the last 40 years.

A healthy family is one that can successfully adapt to crises, challenges, and changes during the life cycle.

Traditional nuclear (two parent) family, where the father works outside the home and the mother remains at home to care for the children, has given way to many other variations.

Dual-career families, in which both parents work outside the home, have become the norm in modern America ad increasing percentages of mothers are primary or sole earners.

Same-sex parenting offers wide variation in family structure.

Adoption agencies are open to placing children into a same-sex parented family and there is increased social acceptance of this family structure. When measured in self-esteem, personality, peer relationships, behavior problems, and academic success, no major differences have been found between the outcome of children raised in some type of same-sex family or a heterosexual family.

Cohabitation heterosexual or homosexual couples who live together with their children but remain unmarried (a type of cohabitation may be experienced bu college students who live in a dormitory or in off-campus school housing with men and women sharing facilities)

Sibling rivalry is a competition or struggle between two or more children in a family.

Responses to Divorce by Age Group

Age Group-Adult Signs

    Symptoms: Increased dependence on eldist child, Open expresssion of fears, anxieties, and anger, inability to focuse on needs of children.

Blended Family- is one in whjch one or both spouses bring children from a previous relationship in to a new family unit.

Table 4.3 Understanding Chronic Illness at Various Ages

Age-Preschool / Concept of Illness-Magical Thoughts

Understanding Families Through Theories

A theory is a group of concepts that form the basis for understanding observations. An accepted theory is logical, consistent, and integrates past and current research.

Family Systems Theory

Family systems theory is based on the understanding that family functions are interconnected.

BOX 4.2 Family Apgar

Adaptation-Sharing of resources and helping of family members.

Partnership-Line of communication and participation of family members.

Growth-How responsibilities are shared among family members.

Affection-Visible and invisible emotional interactions among family members.

Resolve-How time, money, and space are used for solving or preventing problems amount family members.

The role of the health-care worker on the multidisciplinary health-care team is to observe a family’s function and ensure that the needs of each family member are being met.

 Developemental Stage-is defined as a period in life characterized by the mastery of specific skills or behaviors.

Developemental Task- is a competency or skill that helps a person cope, with the environment or advance personal developement.

Freud’s theories involve behaviors behaviors that are influenced by childhood experiences and family dynamics, emphasizing the importance of understanding family roles in shaping individual lifestyles and psychological development.

Piaget’s theories further elaborate on cognitive development, outlining how children understand the world through stages that are heavily influenced by family interactions and guidance.

Erikson’s theories expand on this by introducing the concept of psychosocial development, which asserts that each stage of life is characterized by different conflicts that individuals must navigate, often reflecting the support and challenges presented by their families.

Havighurst’s theories build on these ideas by identifying specific developmental tasks that individuals must achieve throughout their lifespan, with a strong emphasis on the role of family in facilitating or hindering these achievements. This strong interconnection highlights the need for parents and caregivers to foster positive environments that promote healthy emotional and cognitive growth.

Table 4.4 The Growth & Development of a Parente

Child’s Tasks (Erikson’s Stages)

School Age-Industry / Parent’s Tasks-Accept importance of child’s peers. Parents must learn to accept some rejection from child at times. Patience is needed to allow children to do for themselves, even if it takes longer. Do not do the school project for the child. Provide chores for child appropriate to his or her age level.

Nursing Interventions- Help parents to understand that child is developing his or her own limits and self-discipline. Be there to guide child, but do not constantly intrude. Help child get results from his or her own efforts at performance.

Physical Competencies, which include functional abilities that result from motor and neurological development.

Emotional Competencies, which includ self-awareness, empathy, for others, and using strategies to cope with stress or frustrations.

Social Competencies, which include the ability to form positive interpersonal relationships.

Childbearing Styles

Autocratic style, where decisions are made without the input of the children.

Democratic style, where children are encouraged to participate in decision-making, and all members of the family are expected to exhibit mutual respect.

Laissez-Faire style, offers a complete freedom for all members, with no rules, minimal discipline (if any), and no effort at impulse control.

Dysfunctional family, is a family unit that does not offer consistency of members or rules, may exhibit poor interpersonal relationships among its members, deals poorly with conflicts and problems.

Culture shock-is the effect of sudden, drastic change in the cultural environment of an individual or family.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Studies have shown that children can suffe3r from posttraumatic stress disorder after witnessing parental violence or any even that causes upheaval or disruption of family life.

Key Points

• The family is a social system that involves interactions with and commitment to its members.

• Family structures include the nuckear two-parent family, the dual career family, the extended family, and the single-parent family, the blended family and others.

• Traditional family development includes marriage, childbearing, childrearing, child launching, the contracting family, and the aging family.

• A family systems theory is based on understanding that what happens to one member of the family affects the entire family.