FAMILY

Is the basic social institution and the primary group in society Accdg to Murdok, family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. Accdg to Burges and Locke, family is a group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption, constituting a single household, interacting and communicating with each other in their respective social roles of husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister, and creating and maintaining a common culture.
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 Accdg and to Murray and Zentner (1997) is a social system and primary reference group made up of two or more persons living together who are related by blood, marriage or adoption or who are living together by arrangement over a period of time.

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F A M I L Y

father and mother implying the presence of children where love must prevail between me and you

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAMILY
The family as a social group is universal and is significant element in mans social life. It is the first social group to which the individual is exposed. Family contact and relationships are repetitive and continuous. The family is very close and intimate group. It is setting of the most intense emotional experiences during the life time of the individual. The family affects the individual social values, disposition and outlook in life. The family has the unique position of serving as a link between the individual and the larger society. The family is also unique in providing continuity of social life.
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Functions of Family
Regulates sexual behavior and reproduction Biological maintenance function Socialization function Provide legitimate children with a status Social control function Economic function Educational, recreational, religious and political functions
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Classification of Family Structure

Based on Descent
Patrilineal- affiliates a person with a group of relatives through his or her father. Matrilineal- affiliates a person with a group of relatives through his or her mother. Bilateral- affiliates a person with a group of relatives related through both his or her parents.

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Classification of Family Structure

Based on Authority
Patriarchial- authority is vested on the oldest male in the family, often the father. Matriarchial- authority is vested in the mother or mothers kin. Matricentric- prolonged absence of the father gives the mother a dominant position in the family, although the father may also share with the mother in decision making.
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Classification of Family Structure

Based on Internal Organization and Membership

Nuclear Family. Also known as primary or elementary family. Extended Family. Extensions maybe through the parent-child relationship or husband-wife relationship, as in polygamous marriage.

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Classification of Family Structure

Based on Place of Residence

Patrilocal- requires the newly wed to reside near the grooms parents. Matrilocal- near the brides parents. Bilocal- provides the couple the choice to reside on either parents. Neolocal- permits the couple to reside independently of their parents. Avunculocal- prescribes the newly wed couple to reside with or near the maternal uncle of the groom.
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Family systems theory

The family is viewed as a system where the family members are interdependent and are working towards specific purposes and goals. Families are viewed as open systems continually interacting with other systems in the community.

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 Families consist of special functional subsystems: marital subsystem (parents) sibling subsytem (children) individual parent child system subsystem Boundaries regulate the input and output to and from other systems that interact with the family system.

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 Boundaries also protect the family from demands and influences of other systems. View of a person: *The person is a member of the family system and is also considered a subsystem.

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Developmental stage theory

Families are viewed as ever changing and growing; and each family is expected to accomplish tasks at every stage of development. Accomplishment of these tasks is a prerequisite for success in achieving the tasks of the next stage of development. Major task of family: create an environment where each member could master developmental tasks.
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View of the person: * The person is a member of the family where each new member adds to the complexity of the interaction within the family.

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 Accordingly, the main functions of a family include the following: 1. to develop a sense of family purpose and affiliation 2. to add and socialize new members 3. to provide and distribute care and services to members 4. to organize members and resources in meeting family goals.
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View of person: *The person is seen as fulfilling roles within the social system.

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Interactional theory
The family is defined as a unity of interacting personalities with assigned position and roles, expectations and norms of behavior. View of person: * The person is capable of interacting with other family members and is seen as fulfilling roles within the family.
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Role theory
Family life is structured according to the roles that are assumed by the person in interaction with others. Roles are learned through socialization and there is high mutual dependence on division of labor within the family. Each family member has specialized roles.
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View of person:
The person is seen in terms of roles which are specialized or shared and depend on age, sex, social norms and status. A person experiences role reciprocity or strain. Role reciprocity or mutual exchange of responsibilities ensures that personal and family needs are almost always met and that everyone in the family would have a 32-19 potential for positive growth.

 Role strain occurs when individual have difficulty meeting others or their own expectations and obligations. Role strain may be manifested in two ways: *Role conflict- unclear, incomplete, contradictory elements in role which makes the performance of ones role difficult.
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 Role overload- consider the impact of the distribution of power among the members of the family. Usually, the person with less power assumes more unwanted burdens while the person with more power has less dependency needs.

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Crisis theory
The family is made up of members when individually experience a state of disequilibrium from situational or societal sources of stress called stress. Forms of crisis: -Developmental Crisis- transitional periods in personality development characterized by disturbances in cognitive and affective functioning.
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 Situational crisis- sudden, unexpected threats to, or loss of basic resources or life goals. Basic assumptions: * All family members are affected by the inability of one member to cope. * The family assists members with coping problems by adopting coping mechanisms as a group.
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 View of person: *Crisis in a person may take the form of illness which may pose a problem to the entire family.

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Stages of Family
STAGES 1. Beginning Family TASKS *Establishing a mutually satisfying marriage *Planning to have or not to have children 2. Child*Having and adjusting to infant bearing family *Supporting the needs of all three members *Renegotiating marital relationships
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Stages of Family
STAGES 3. Family with a pre-school children TASKS
*adjusting to cost of family life *adapting to the needs of pre-school children *Coping with parental loss of energy and privacy

4. Family with *Adjusting to the activity of the growing children school age *Promoting joint decisions between children children
and parents *Encouraging and supporting childrens educational achievements
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Stages of Family
STAGES TASKS 5. Family with *Maintaining open communication among teenagers and members *Supporting ethical and moral values within young adult
the family *Balancing freedom with responsibility of teenagers *Releasing young adults with appropriate rituals and assistance

6. Postparental family

*Strengthening marital relationships *Maintaining supportive home base 32-27 *Preparing for retirement

Stages of Family
STAGES 7. Aging Family TASKS *Maintaining ties with younger and older generations *Adjusting for retirement *Adjusting to loss of spouse *Closing family house

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Family Influences on Health Care

Families help determine the following:
Whether or not to seek treatment. What type of treatment is appropriate. Who should provide the treatment or care. Where the treatment or care should be provided.

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Family Influences on Health Care

Families are often the major caregivers for their relatives. Extended families and communities have traditionally acted as a buffer against excessive stress and illness.

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Family Influences on Health Care

Lack of social support from family or significant others results in psychological and spiritual isolation, which may negatively impact a persons physiological state.

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