The Family

1
The Family

• As adapted from Marriages Families, Intimacy,
  Diversity, and Strengths, 5th Edition,
• by David H. Olson and John DeFrain

2
Chapter 14

• Stress, Abuse, and Family Problems

3
Problems Confronting Families

• Divorce
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Sibling Abuse
• Elderly Abuse
• Alcoholism
• Drug Addiction

4
Universal Principles

• All couples and families experience stress
• Stressors begin or end in the family
• Resources must be found to cope
• All couples / families have internal strengths
• Internal resources tend to be used before
  external resources

5
Nature of Stress

• Stressors
• Stress
• Curvilinear
• Distress
• Eustress

6
Stress and Life Events

• Life events that require change of behavior or
  readjustment
• Personal events
• Family events
• Financial events or issues
• Occupational stressors

7
Stress and Family Life

• Stress can emerge as a result of
• Family events
• Unexpected events
• Life events at an unexpected time

8
Boundary Ambiguity

• Lack of clarity about whether a person is in or
  out of the family
• Forms
• Psychological presence but physical absence
• Physical presence, but psychological absence

9
Common Life Events Across Stages of the Life
Cycle that Produce Stress

• Uncompleted tasks
• Emotional difficulties in family life
• Unstable economic situation
• Economic investments
• Medical and/or dental expenses
• Money for basics
• Change in jobs or career

10
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Can result from combat or other traumatic events
• Estimated 10 of soldiers may have PTSD
• Domestic violence 5.4 times greater than those
  without disorder

11
Family Coping Strategies

• Cognitive
• Emotional
• Relationship Orientation
• Community
• Spiritual
• Individual Development

12
Domestic Violence

• Marital violence correlates with
• More common among young families
• Low occupational status
• Income and job dissatisfaction
• Socially isolated couples
• Family of origin violence
• Larger families

13
Abuse

• Physical
• Psychological

14
Cycle of Violence
HONEYMOON
ACUTE BATTERING
TENSION
Walker, 2000
15
Child Maltreatment

• Forms
• Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sibling abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Child-to-parent abuse

16
Child Abuse

• Risk factors
• Economic distress
• Inadequate parenting skills
• Parental personality problems
• Chemical abuse
• Social isolation
• Special needs child

17
Child Abuse

• Risk factors continued
• Large family size
• Domestic violence exposure
• Violent subculture
• Violent marriage
• Single parent
• Stepparent

18
Alcohol

• Alcohol abuse
• Alcoholism
• Problem drinking
• Prevalence

19
Alcohol

• Warning Signs
• Drinking alone or secretively
• Using alcohol as method of coping
• Feeling discomfort when alcohol not available
• Alcohol use in risky situations
• Drinking regularly or more frequently
• Drinking in the morning or at unusual times
• Escalating alcohol consumption pattern

20
Alcohol

• Familys Reaction to Alcohol Abuse
• Denial
• Attempt to eliminate
• Family disorganization
• Attempt to reorganize
• Escape the problem
• Second attempt to reorganize
• Reorganization with the substance abuser seeking
  help

21
Alcohol

• Treatment options
• Recommendations to deal with alcoholic