Family Concerns
No matter who you are or where you come from, you are member of a family. Whether you are a parent or child, brother or sister, young or old, your family experiences influence who you are and who you will become. Any changes or problems within a family can affect the health and relationships of all its members.
In addition to day-to-day pressures and struggling to find a work-life balance that works for you and your family, you will also experience changes in family life throughout your lifetime. These changes may cause you (and family members) stress and will require that you develop new skills in order to cope with the challenges involved. Newlyweds need to learn how to live and function as a couple. New parents adjust to their caretaker roles while trying to remain a couple. Parents struggle to guide and raise their children through many stages into adulthood. Many older adults face the transition from child to caretaker as their own parents age and need help and support.
In addition to these regular life events, many families may also experience unexpected crises or changes such as serious illness, death, financial problems, or divorce that cause strain and require adjustments in their lives.
The Family Life Cycle
The emotional and intellectual stages that we pass through from our childhood to senior years as a member of a family are described by sociologists as the "family life cycle." The five stages of the family life cycle are:
- Independence
- Coupling or marriage
- Parenting: Babies through adolescents
- Launching adult children
- Retirement or senior years
Learning the skills needed to respond in a healthy way to the unique challenges of each stage allows you to move forward and be prepared to handle the next stage of life. It is possible to move forward without mastering the skills of each stage, but you may be more likely to have difficulty with family relationships and future transitions. It is also believed that successful transitioning from each phase may help prevent disease and emotional or stress-related disorders.
Family Problems
Family problems can arise when a serious crisis or change occurs or even when a family is struggling to manage the stress of daily living. These disruptions may delay your (or a family member's) transition to the next phase in the family life cycle, or you may move on without having developed necessary coping skills—which can make the next stage of life more difficult.
Getting Help
It is possible to learn missed skills and improve your family relationships at any stage. Self-reflection, education, and counseling are all ways that you can help improve your communication, coping skills, and family life.
- Explore tools and strategies for self-care tips to help you manage your feelings and strategies to help you build stronger family relationships.
- Read more about mental health conditions that can be related to family concerns.
- Take a confidential online screening to see if your symptoms indicate a mental health condition.
- Visit the where to go for help section to find professional help and additional resources.
Additional Information from the UMHS Healthwise Knowledgebase
