Exploring Family Strengths in 21st Century Society

847 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What is a family of three

Since a family is the most fundamental unit holding up a society as well as individuals, people often witness a family as a whole overcoming adversity, making impossible to possible. Behind such wonders, many believe that there are invisible power only shared within a family members and that keeps a family united and moving forward. What is the hidden power and what makes up a family of 21st century? This essay, therefore, will review the general definition of a family in a contemporary society, discuss the framework of family strengths and finally will examine how the family strengths can be applied in health care practice. The concept of a family has greatly changed for the last couple of decades as many parts of the world develop into multicultural Fitzpatrick and Ritchie (cited in Schrodt 2009) analyzed family communication patterns and they proposed 3 dimensional family communication environment instrument (FCEI) to identify what holds the family together and strong. On the test, they found that 'family expressiveness,' 'structural traditionalism' and 'conflict avoidance' constitute those 3 dimensions and that each dimension co-influences one another. The research also specifically stressed out children from the families sharing a similar family communication schemes tend to expect to share the same strengths with their future family. For many years, series of analysis about family strengths grew into a trend, called 'family strengths framework' and it became widely used in the health care area, maily focusing on problem-solving and detecting success of a family and their resilience(MacAllister, cited in Smith & Ford 2013). DeFrain and Stinnett (cited in Schrodt 2009) asserted that every family has its own strengths and those strengths can be categorized, mostly sharing the similar qualities as the previous studies had confirmed. In the DeFrain's analysis, communication, affection, enjoying time together, spiritual well-being and stress and crisis management were listed as the most primary qualities. While DeFrain and Stinnett proposed 6 qualities, the Australian Family Strengths Research Project (Geggie, DeFrain, Hitchcock & Silberberg, cited in 2013) suggested 8, which are 'communication,' 'togetherness, ' 'sharing activities,' 'affection,' 'support,' 'acceptance,' 'commitment' and 'resilience' (Smith & Ford

Show More
Related

  • A Raisin in the Sun: The Foundation of Family

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ghtful and inspirational to many. Realizing that each member of a family has his own issues that he is dealing with on top of keeping his family together can alter his reasoning and decision-making. Becoming less self-obsessed and demonstrating empathy for family members during difficult circumstances can be essential in keeping a family strong. Building and fortifying a foundation of family unity can be pivotal distinction between a family who stands together and one who crumbles apart.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Understanding Family Resilience by Joan Patterson

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    Family is the fundamental group of people that hones each individual into a social being and trains each person into a being that complies with various changes that may occur in one’s life. It aids in developing a person’s skills and attitude in relating to other people. If not for the family, growing and developing one’s self is a difficult and an almost impossible task to accomplish. In the article by Joan Patterson, known as Understanding Family Resilience, it had highlighted various information and explanations of how a family responds and should opt to act during times of adversity, or also known as family resilience. It is defined by McCubin, H and McCubin, M. as “characteristics, dimensions, and properties which help families to be resistant to disruption in the face of change and adaptive in the face of crisis situations.” Since change occurs on a daily basis and is entirely inevitable, the trait of a family to be flexible in adjusting is necessary. Events that may trigger changes are various crises and challenges or internal and external forces. Such occurrences that arise and are experienced by the family may draw most families to become hopeless and disoriented. In Patterson’s work, a clear explanation and citation of various instances to prove that such misfortunate events that could lead to the disorganization of a family can be avoided and be used as an opportunity to further strengthen the relationship founded in the family.

    Read More

  • Human Services

    1968 Words  | 4 Pages

    The family dynamic offers multiple perceptions and needs, these may require addressing matters individually as well as on a group level. There may be matters such as domestic violence or substance abuse which requires both individual and family counseling and resources. In times of crisis families need education and coping strategies in order to regain their lives back. The necessities of the family may entail emotional and medical support requirements depending on their situation. When there is a possible case involving violence the focus may turn to more than medical and emotional support and possible removal of the children from the home may be required.

    Read More

  • Family Stressors Case Study

    1204 Words  | 3 Pages

    Having a family is no easy task, especially when you are faced with many challenges that are unforeseen. Sometimes one imagines or hopes for an ideal family. The ideal family would consist of a spouse, one or two kids and live happily with little to no conflicts. The reality is that even if one tries to avoid conflict by all possible means, conflict is inevitable. Stressors and strengths within a family can be seen in almost every situation. Although stressors tend to be more noticeable than the strengths. Some of which will be discussed later on, although it will be mainly focused on the strength and stressors faced after a divorce for children. But if one focuses on the stressors more than the strengths, one will only see stressors rather than solutions.

    Read More

  • The Family Systems Theory And The Family-Development Theory

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since the 20th century, researchers have sought out solutions to help assist families and the individual components that make up family systems overcome the challenges and schisms that can inhibit individuation and stability. Two theoretical perspectives, the family-systems theory and the family-development theory, were conceived to gain as Balswick & Balswick (2014) noted, gain “a wide-angle view of family life” (p. 22). Though these two theories have merit, one I found to be more advantageous in gaining a better understanding of the family as an actively metastasizing organism, which needs to be approached more adaptively.

    Read More

  • Family In The Goldsmith Family

    1215 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like any family, certain issues and forms of stress are constantly occurring within a family. Every family is unique in its ability to adjust and overcome challenges. The ongoing interactions of the family members influence its functioning ability and overall structure (Kaakinen, Gedaly-Duff, Padgett-Coehlo, & Harmon-Hanson, 2010). A family nurse has the power to promote wellness by ensuring the affective functions of the family are being met among the members of the Goldsmith family and family communication is strong for effective decision-making. Affective function is the relationships shared between the members within the family...

    Read More

  • Murray Bowen's Family Systems Theory

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    When looking at family systems, you must begin by looking at Murray Bowen’s family systems theory and “his views on the eight interlocking forces that shape family function,” (Haefner, 2014). Within Bowen’s family psychotherapy research, he noted that “family patterns and problems often repeat over generations, he also noted that families make up their own emotional systems, and within these systems they try to maintain stability and reduce conflict,” (Haefner, 2014). The eight interlocking forces noted by Bowen through (Haefner, 2014)

    Read More

  • Family Nursing Approaches

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Kaakinen, J., Coehlo,D., Steele, R., Tabacco, A., Hanson, S. (2015), family as a context is an approach that focuses on care of an individual. In this approach, the

    Read More

  • Traditional Family Essay

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    The unit of a family is the most prominent essential for all of us. As social human beings, we seek social support in order to thrive, and that is where family comes into play. A family is where you receive love, support, encouragement, and many other social benefits. The total number of households in the United States increased from 63 million in 1970 to 113 million in 2008 (Weeks, 2012). The family has influenced multitudes of people in many ways. The traditional family in the United States consists two-married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring also know as the nuclear family. However, the term of a true family has ultimately changed over the last 50 years especially for African Americans.

    Read More

  • Strengthening Family Resilience

    1457 Words  | 3 Pages

    Strengthening Family Resilience Family resilience can be described as the successful coping of family members under adversity that enables support and cohesion within the family (Walsh, 2006). According to the research, resilient families typically have many of the following protective factors: positive outlook, spirituality, family member accord, flexibility, family communication, financial management, family time, shared recreation, routines and rituals, and outside support networks (Walsh, 2003). These protective factors not only serve as a function within the family structure, but are a factor in the therapeutic process. The family resilience perspective in therapy shifts away from a deficit-based lens that views struggling families as

    Read More

  • Family Health Assessment

    1790 Words  | 4 Pages

    Family is the basic unit of society. A family is a set of interacting individuals related by blood, marriage, cohabitation, or adoption who interdependently perform relevant functions by fulfilling expected roles. Health practices are those activities performed by individuals or families as a whole to promote health and prevent diseases. The relationship between members of family influences the understanding of behavior, which is demonstrated in family’s structural, functional, communicational, and developmental patterns (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2003; Bonell et al., 2003).Within families, children and adults are nurtured and taught about health values by word and by example, and it is within families that members first learn to make choices to promote health (Edelman & Mandle, 2010, p. 172).

    Read More

  • Family: The Importance Of Family In The Family

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the word “family” is discussed, most people think of mothers, fathers, and other siblings. Some people think of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even cousins and more on the pedigree tree. Without family in people's lives, they would not be the same people that they grew up to be today and in the future. When people hear the word family they think about, the ones who will help them in any way they can whether it’s money, support, advice, or anything to help them succeed in life. Family will forever be the backbone of support.

    Read More

  • Reflection Of Family Dynamics

    1018 Words  | 3 Pages

    Family dynamics and their structure have gone through many changes in the last 100 years. The development of diverse and unique family styles was very interesting and I was surprised by the many changes over the spectrum of time. In addition, I discovered that I have been a little sheltered by my own environment. I had failed to learn about other cultures, but what I learned from this course and the way we define family was eye opening. Considering the definition of a family unit, it is easy to see how much that definition has changed. People living in the same home and celebrating the same belief system, although not related by blood, are still considered family. From single parents, to grandparents raising the grandchildren, and homosexual

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Successful Family

    1110 Words  | 3 Pages

    As Proverbs 6:20 says “My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.” The book The Successful Family” written by Ellen G. White, it highlights certain principles, morals and values which are vital for the successful development of the family unit. The book is made up of sections designated to each member of the family, in which each person has different responsibilities which must be carried out in order for the unit to work, these sections also help us to understand each member of the family as unique individuals, who have various needs and feelings

    Read More

  • Resolving Family Conflict

    1572 Words  | 4 Pages

    Families provide people with an atmosphere in which to live, grow, and develop. A family culture is established by the parents and instilled in the children during their upbringing. A healthy family is a family which follows a set of strong morals, stays loyal to one another, cooperates, and works together to avoid conflict. An environment where there is openness amongst family members is ideal because minds that are open are more susceptible to avoiding conflict than minds that are closed. If conflict gets the best of a family, it has the potential to increase hostility and create remoteness between family members, however, if a family resolves conflict, it can strengthen and enforce the family relationships.

    Read More

More about Exploring Family Strengths in 21st Century Society

Open Document