Learning Plan 5

Family Systems and Life Cycles

Mary Knutson, R.N.

For Western Wisconsin Technical College

December 26, 2004

What is a Family?

Two or more individuals, coming from the same or different kinship groups, who are involved in a continuous living arrangement, usually residing in the same household, experiencing common emotional bonds, and sharing certain obligations toward each other and toward others.

Family-Centered Nursing Gives a broader picture for care of an

individual Recognizes that family units may also

need care Assumes that families playa critical role

in maintaining health– Dysfunction in one member may be

related to family disturbance– Supportive relationships are

important during times of illness

Characteristics of Families

Every family is a small social system

Every family has its own cultural values and rules

Every family has structure Every family has certain basic

functions Every family moves through stages

in its life cycle

What is a Family Life Cycle?

The emotional and intellectual “stages” you pass through from childhood to your retirement years as a member of a family

They are important because your family can profoundly influence your behavior and development

Successful transitioning may help prevent disease and emotional or stress-related disorders

Transitional Stage (Carter and McGoldrick)

“Between Families” stage includes leaving family of origin and beginning a family of marriage

Developmental Tasks: To differentiate self in relation to the family of origin To develop intimate peer relationships To establish self in relation to work and financial independence

Eight Stages of Nuclear Family Life Cycle (Duvall

and Miller) Married Couples (No children) Childbearing families Families with preschool children Families with school children Families with teenagers Families launching young

adults Middle-aged parents Aging family members

Married Couples – No children– Beginning families

• Developmental Tasks:

• To establish a mutually satisfying marriage

• To relate harmoniously to the kin network

• To plan a family

Childbearing families – Oldest child aged birth to 30 months

•Developmental Tasks:

•To set up young family as a stable unit

•To reconcile conflicting developmental tasks and needs of family members

•To maintain mutually satisfying marital relationship

•To expand relationships within family

Families with preschool children – Oldest child aged 2½ to 6 years

• Developmental Tasks:

• To meet basic family needs (housing, food, etc.)

• To socialize the children

• To integrate new child members into the family

• To maintain healthy relationships within the family

Families with school children – Oldest child aged 6 to 13 years

• Developmental Tasks:

• To socialize the children

• To maintain a satisfying marital relationship

• To meet physical health needs of family members

Families with teenagers – Oldest child aged 13 to 20 years

• Developmental Tasks:

• To balance freedom with responsibility of teenagers

• To focus on the marital relationship

• To communicate openly between parents and children

Families launching young adults – Stage begins when oldest child

leaves home and ends when youngest child leaves home

•Developmental Tasks:

• To balance freedom with responsibility of teenagers

• To focus on the marital relationship

• To communicate openly between parents and children

Middle-aged parents – Stage begins with empty nest

and ends at start of retirement

• Developmental Tasks:

• To prepare for retirement

• To re-focus on marriage without children

• To realign relationships to include in-laws and grandchildren

• To adjust to role as caregiver with declining health of elderly parents

Aging family members – Stage begins with spouses’

retirement and ends at their deaths

•Developmental Tasks:

• To promote healthy, active retirement as body ages

• To explore new family and social roles

• To adjust to a reduced income, and loss (death of siblings, friends, and spouse)

• To review and reflect on life and experiences

Traits of a Healthy Family

Communicates Affirms/Supports Respects Trusts Provides

play/Humor Shared

Responsibility Teaches right and

wrong Shares leisure time

Rituals and traditions Interaction balance Shared religious care Respects privacy Values service to

others Values table time

and conversation Admits to and seeks

help with problems

Family Functions Contributing to Health

Promotion Affection: Provides a nurturing emotional

climate that contributes to healthy growth and development

Sense of cohesiveness and nurturance Maintaining morals and motivation Socialization Physical maintenance Provides and regulates economic

resources

Family Nursing Process

Collect family data Build a trusting relationship Identify family strengths Identify actual or potential problems Set mutually agreed upon goals Set priorities Initiate interventions Evaluate effectiveness

Role of the Nurse in Family Health Promotion

Collaborate between family and health professionals

Function as as client advocate Promote and provide health education Assist family to access resources Guide families to identify strengths Establish priorities for change and

growth Formulate and evaluate plans for

lifestyle modification

References

www.healthsci.clayton.edu/NURS410/familysy.htm

www.unt.edu/cpe/module2/thrybase.htm

www.peacehealth.org/kbase/topic/special/ty6171/sec1.htm