Contemporary family consists of any family that is living in the current times. Contemporary families are always continually faced by changing needs as well as challenges in the dynamic world. The purpose of this paper is to help better the understanding of two key issues that is family stressors and family strengths, which have considerable influence on the contemporary families. Secondly, the paper aims at better our understanding of how research is helping in learning more concerning modern families. Lastly, the paper helps understand how professionals working hand in hand with families can make use of information dealing with family stressors, family strengths, as well as current research studies to help strengthen the family relations.
A family stressor is a transition, which happens in the family. The family stressor can be either positive or negative and consequently it can change the coping patterns of many households. Examples of family stressors include illnesses, the death of a family member, weak economy, family violence, as well as substance abuse. The way a family perceives the stressor greatly influences the seriousness of the stressor. Research has shown that the way a family perceives the stressor reflects the family values as well as their previous experience when dealing with such changes.
Studies have also shown that stressful life events have a direct correlation with worse outcomes for children. Family stressors are associates with a large number of risk factors for depressions well as suicide incidences. Parents who deal with stress in the way that is unhealthy often have a high risk of passing such behaviors to their children. On the other hand, parents who cope with their stress through healthy ways are not only happy but also promote the formation of living habits as well as skills to their children.
Divorce is one example of a family stressor, which is very painful both for the parents as well as to the children. The issue of divorce comes along with many changes, and worse of all is feeling of the real sense of loss. Children grieve for the loss of the presence of a parent or even both parents in some extreme cases. Parents, on the other hand, grieve the loss of the kind of family, which they had always hoped for. The emotional reaction of the children to divorce often depends on their age at the time of divorce.
Findings have shown that children who are brought up in the two-parent family by biological parents do much better in a variety of aspects compared to children from the single family (Becvar, 2013). Single parenting is the leading cause of school dropouts, increased cases of teenage pregnancy and the many negative outcomes. When it reaches that extent, the family, and even the society as a whole is affected.
Family strengths comprise of those qualities in a relationship, which consequently led to emotional health as well as the well-being of the family. Family strengths comprise of aspects such as family commitments, embracing positive communication, having time together, good stress management and, more importantly, affection and appreciation. Increasing the number of healthy families is one aspect, which cannot be compared to any other in making human life happier. Healthy families are defined by the love that exists amongst them, the happiness, the harmony as well as the satisfaction they have with each other. Studies have shown that if a child is brought up in a strong family most probably, the child will too create a strong family in future.
Embracing good positive communication is key to having a healthy family relationship (Barnes et al, 2011). Good family communication involves sharing ideas, experiences, thoughts, and feelings among the members of the family. When family members communicate positively, they will be in a position to share what they believe as well as being in a position to learn what the other person feel is right. In the case of disagreement, they will be able to begin understanding more the reason the other person had a different opinion. The family system is meant to help each of the family members in whatever situation they are faced with. Effective family communication provides a platform where every member of the household is in a position to understand what their loved ones need, an aspect, which makes it easier for provision of the necessary support. It is not only just the point of providing support but also, even a listening ear makes a very significant difference.
The contemporary family system is being faced with numerous challenges and needs. Family stressors if not managed well have serious consequences to the extent of ruining the family as well as outcomes being passed down to the children. Family strengths are the pillars with which an active family stands on. It is also important to note that every family has stressors and strength but what matters is how they handle such aspects. Healthy families can transform their stressors to be their strengths. To further the study I would for the study of family stressors and children’s outcomes.
References
Becvar, D. S. (2013). Handbook of family resilience. New York, NY: Springer.
Barnes, M., & Rowe, J. (2011). Child, Youth and Family Nursing in the Community. London: Elsevier Health Sciences APAC.
