CHAPTER 15 – MARRIAGE AND FAMILY STRENGTHS AND NEEDS Instructor: Wendy Crapo

Used by permission of THE ACADEMY OF NURSING 2355 E S. S.L.C., UT

RECURRING THEMES: Families are dynamic:Families are dynamic: There will always be families and they will always continue to change.

RECURRING THEMES cont’d: Families are diverse:Families are diverse: Families are a composite of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, and lifestyle variety.

RECURRING THEMES cont’d: Families satisfy important societal and personal needs: Societal health and stability depends in large part on strong and stable families.Families satisfy important societal and personal needs: Societal health and stability depends in large part on strong and stable families.

RECURRING THEMES cont’d: Families need societal support: The family needs greater societal and institutional support to overcome problems and grasp opportunities.

MARITAL NEEDS Desire for intimacyDesire for intimacy –Needs to be balanced with maintaining a separate identity Interpersonal competence: The ability to share and develop an intimate, growing relationship with another.Interpersonal competence: The ability to share and develop an intimate, growing relationship with another.

MARITAL STRENGTHS VS FAMILY STRENGTHS Childfree couples generally have more time for each other and substantially less psychological, conomic and physical stress.Childfree couples generally have more time for each other and substantially less psychological, e conomic and physical stress. Many of our marital skills develop alongside our family skills.Many of our marital skills develop alongside our family skills. Many of the traits of healthy marriages are also found in healthy families. Do Families with children generally have more stability? Why?

DAVID MACE’S ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE: CommitmentCommitment CommunicationCommunication Creative use of conflictCreative use of conflict

SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES: Numerous studies show correlation between communication patterns and marital satisfaction.Numerous studies show correlation between communication patterns and marital satisfaction. Commitment involves ongoing growth, willingness to work and ability to work.Commitment involves ongoing growth, willingness to work and ability to work. Commitment to the sexual relationship within marriage is essential to marital strength.Commitment to the sexual relationship within marriage is essential to marital strength. Commitment involves give-and-take in order to be together and nurture the marriage.Commitment involves give-and-take in order to be together and nurture the marriage. Commitment to success is an essential component.Commitment to success is an essential component.

FAMILY STRENGTHS Traits of a Healthy Family by Dolores Curran surveyed 500 family professionals and asked them what the top ten traits of healthy families were.Traits of a Healthy Family by Dolores Curran surveyed 500 family professionals and asked them what the top ten traits of healthy families were. _____Develops a sense of trust _____Has a balance of interaction among members _____Has a shared religious core _____Teaches respect for others _____Teaches a sense of right and wrong _____Communicates and listens _____Has a sense of play and humor _____Affirms and supports one another _____Exhibits a sense of shared responsibility _____Strong sense of family in which rituals and traditions abound In groups determine the priority of each trait

FAMILY STRENGTHS Commitment is a prevailing characteristicCommitment is a prevailing characteristic Identify family goalsIdentify family goals Positive family identityPositive family identity Work to promote growth of other family membersWork to promote growth of other family members Affirmation, respect for others and the world & trustAffirmation, respect for others and the world & trust Strong parental role modelsStrong parental role models Communication is directCommunication is direct ResponsibilityResponsibility Moral code and spiritual orientation give meaning, purpose & hopeMoral code and spiritual orientation give meaning, purpose & hope Allow children to make mistakes and face the consequencesAllow children to make mistakes and face the consequences Make time for familyMake time for family Traditions and sense of family historyTraditions and sense of family history

FAMILY STRENGTHS cont’d What types of rituals, traditions, or holidays are practiced in your own family? How do these types of events strengthen families? Which is more important quality time or quantity time?

FAMILY QUALITY Family quality can be seen as a continuum over the life cycleFamily quality can be seen as a continuum over the life cycle Cohesiveness of the family is severely tested at times but can emerge strongerCohesiveness of the family is severely tested at times but can emerge stronger May involve periods of distrust, disorder and unhappinessMay involve periods of distrust, disorder and unhappiness Each family is different from each otherEach family is different from each other

FAMILY CRISIS Unite to face the challenges of a crisisUnite to face the challenges of a crisis Cumulative effect of other family strengths enable strong families to deal with crisisCumulative effect of other family strengths enable strong families to deal with crisis Able to accept changes from crisis and see possibilities for growthAble to accept changes from crisis and see possibilities for growth Able to be open to resources available to themAble to be open to resources available to them Acknowledge their vulnerabilityAcknowledge their vulnerability Recognizes interdependence within family and communityRecognizes interdependence within family and community Adaptability essentialAdaptability essential

FAMILY COHESIVENESS Cohesiveness involves emotional bonding, boundaries, coalitionsCohesiveness involves emotional bonding, boundaries, coalitions Sharing timeSharing time Sharing spaceSharing space Sharing interestSharing interest Sharing recreationSharing recreation Sharing friendsSharing friends Sharing decision makingSharing decision making

FAMILY ADAPTABILITY LeadershipLeadership AssertivenessAssertiveness DisciplineDiscipline NegotiationNegotiation RolesRoles RulesRules

STRENGTHS OF SINGLE- PARENT FAMILIES More efficient decision-making systemMore efficient decision-making system More direct communicationMore direct communication Greater sense of vitality is present in work and contributions made by childrenGreater sense of vitality is present in work and contributions made by children More egalitarian view of roles of men & womenMore egalitarian view of roles of men & women

DIFFERENT FAMILIES, DIFFERENT STRENGTHS How are all ethnic group families similar? Family processes are common among families of all types.

ETHNICITY IS COMPLICATED AND EVER CHANGING Evaluate for each of the following ethnic groups in each area: –Kinship ties –Gender roles –Priority of children, family, elderly –Strengths

AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES An extended kinship networkAn extended kinship network Flexibility of rolesFlexibility of roles Resilient childrenResilient children Egalitarian parental relationshipsEgalitarian parental relationships Strong motives to achieveStrong motives to achieve

LATIN AMERICAN FAMILIES Family is basic source of emotional support, especially for childrenFamily is basic source of emotional support, especially for children Role of mother is centralRole of mother is central Emphasize needs of family above those of individualEmphasize needs of family above those of individual Family centeredFamily centered Strong ethnic identityStrong ethnic identity High family flexibilityHigh family flexibility Supportive network of kinSupportive network of kin Equalitarian decision makingEqualitarian decision making Family cohesionFamily cohesion

ASIAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES Child has obligations to parentChild has obligations to parent Close family ties and loyaltyClose family ties and loyalty Low divorce ratesLow divorce rates Complex system of values and techniques of social controlComplex system of values and techniques of social control Vietnamese-Americans have developed variations in their traditional extended family householdVietnamese-Americans have developed variations in their traditional extended family household Filial pietyFilial piety CohesionCohesion Value of educationValue of education Extended family supportExtended family support

NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES See human life as being in harmony with natureSee human life as being in harmony with nature Kinship relations characterized by residential closeness, obligatory mutual aid, active participation in life cycle events, presence of central figures around whom family ceremonies revolveKinship relations characterized by residential closeness, obligatory mutual aid, active participation in life cycle events, presence of central figures around whom family ceremonies revolve Special role for the elderlySpecial role for the elderly Extended family networkExtended family network Value placed on cooperation and groupsValue placed on cooperation and groups Respect for the elderlyRespect for the elderly Tribal support systemTribal support system Preservation of culturePreservation of culture

CAUCASIAN AMERICAN

KIN AND COMMUNITY We need to nurture and care for othersWe need to nurture and care for others We need intimacy from people who will listen to us and care about usWe need intimacy from people who will listen to us and care about us We need to be actively involved in some form of communityWe need to be actively involved in some form of community Knowledge that assistance from others is available keeps us from feeling anxious and vulnerableKnowledge that assistance from others is available keeps us from feeling anxious and vulnerable We need reassurance as to our skills as persons, workers, parents, and partners to maintain self- esteemWe need reassurance as to our skills as persons, workers, parents, and partners to maintain self- esteem Relationship needs

KINSHIP TIES Provide emotional support even when distantProvide emotional support even when distant Depends more on feelings than biologyDepends more on feelings than biology

BRONFENBRENNER PROPOSES THAT WE LOOK AT FAMILY IN AN “ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT” Placing child in various systems such as home and schoolPlacing child in various systems such as home and school Well-being of family depends on its own resources but also support from communityWell-being of family depends on its own resources but also support from community Families that love, shelter, and teach deserve to be nurtured, strengthened and protectedFamilies that love, shelter, and teach deserve to be nurtured, strengthened and protected

What improvements need to be made in Family Policies?What improvements need to be made in Family Policies? Does honor and dignity to the parental role need to be restored?Does honor and dignity to the parental role need to be restored? If so, how?If so, how?

AMERICAS GREATEST NATIONAL RESOURCE = THE FAMILY Where character is formedWhere character is formed Where society is preservedWhere society is preserved A haven of peace and restA haven of peace and rest