Family:
1. A group of individuals living under one
roof
2. A group of persons with common ancestry
3. A group of people united by common
convictions
Elements of an Effective Family
• The have a leader
• They have a switchboard operator
• They are much to all their members but
everything to none
• They are hospitable
• The deal with trouble when it arises
• They prize their rituals
• They are affectionate
• They have a sense of place
Stress and The Family
• The Changing Family
– Divorce
– Longevity of elders
– Distance relationships/Mobility
– Cultural Norms
– Expectations
– Single parent families
– Family planning
– Dual Career
The Challenge of Marriage
Two individuals must leave their families of origin
form a new family.
Each person must take
what was useful from their family and leave the
excess baggage behind.
In the home, one
person’s stress is
everyone’s stress.
4 Areas of Family Stress
1. Children
2. Marriage/Partner Relationship
3. Finances
4. Time Constraints
Children
• Growth -physical, psychological,
emotional
• Power Struggles
• Anxiety
• Special needs
Marriage Relationships
• Different Backgrounds
• Different Styles
• Different Dreams
• Disappointment
• Power Struggle
• Great Expectations not met
Finances
• Spending vs. Saving
• Priorities
• Identity
• Mine and Yours
Time
• Providing Time vs. Being There
• Me Time vs. Us Time
• Learning Time Responsibilities