1. Family Systems and Life Cycles
Learning Plan 5
Family Systems and Life Cycles
Mary Knutson, R.N.
For Western Wisconsin Technical College
December 26, 2004

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. To establish a mutually satisfying marriage
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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Stage begins with empty nest and ends at start of retirement
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

15. Stage begins with spouses’ retirement and ends at their deaths
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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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