Understanding stages of family Development and Effective Functioning

                                               

A family is who they say they are. Problems abound in family relationships, and these problems cause serious stress and pressures among members of the family. Degrees and magnitude of relationship problems may range between the husband and wife, parents and children or between the children. 

If there is any form of dysfunction in a family the end result will be a dysfunctional nation because, the family is the smallest representation of a community, nation, a culture and society. When certain things are handled carefully within a family these relationship problems can be avoided.
 

Family development goes through a series of stages described as follows:

1    1. The stage of single young adult: this is a difficult stage because the young adults must decide what social standards from their family of origin will be preserved and which ones they will change for themselves to be incorporated into a new family. Developmental tasks of this stage include: forming an identity separate from parents, establishing intimate peer relationships and advancing towards financial independence.

    
     2. The newly married couple: Marriage is a difficult transition because each of the partners will have their own uniqueness and such have differences. The newly married couple must then renegotiate their relationships with their parents, siblings and peers. The developmental tasks of this stage include: establishing a new identity as a couple, realigning the relationships with members of the family and taking decisions about having children etc.
 

      3. The family with young children: Adjustments in relationships should occur with the arrival of children. The entire family is affected and the realignment of relationship must occur. The developmental tasks of this stage include: adjustments within the marital system to meet the responsibility associated with the parenthood while maintaining the integrity of the couple relationships, sharing the responsibility of child bearing equally and integrating the relationship with the other members of the family.

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     4. The family with teenagers: Both parents will be approaching the middle life while teenagers are undergoing biological, emotional and socio-cultural changes and all these factors demand changes in family relationship patterns. 
     
     The developmental tasks of this stage include: redefining the level of dependence so that teenagers are provided with great autonomy while parents remain responsive towards the dependency needs of the teenagers. There are also problems related to middle age, work, couple relationships and ageing parents must also be put into consideration during this period.

     
     5. The family launching grown children: This stage is characterized by intermittent entry and exit of family members. Children may leave home for further studies; National Youth Corps, work etc. while in-laws and children enter in to the family system. At this period there is need for a great deal of relationship realignment. 
     
     Adult to adult relationship is important at this time and the developmental tasks associated with this stage include: re-establishing the bond of the dynamic marital relationship, realigning the relationship to include the grandchildren and accepting the additional care taking responsibilities.

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     6. Family in later life: This stage begins with the retirement and will last until the death of both spouses. Most adults in this stage still have a prominent part of the family system and many are able to offer support for their grown children. 
      
     Developmental tasks associated with this stage include accepting the physiological changes associated with the ageing, changes in socio-economic status with the retirement of the couple, and dealing with the death of the spouse and friends.