The Importance of Family Relationships

Many studies confirms the importance of families and family relationships to young
people aged between 8 and 15 years.
When asked who they looked up to, in significant studies, almost half of kids involved
nominated their parents, with a further quarter nominating a relative usually an older
brother or sister or grandparent.
!nly "# per cent picked a sports star or pop culture identity as their main role model.
$his establishes the significance of family relationships for children
%hildren surveyed also said they felt proud when they received parental approval, and
regularly seek advice from their families when they are worried about something. $he
only e&ception was when children are concerned about their parents' separating or
divorcing.
$hey then are more likely to talk to friends or siblings, particularly in the absence of vital
family relationships.
(iven that the family is the primary group of significant others, it follows that a young
person's identity and e&istence is strongly influenced by the family system and the
accompanying family relationships. )t is not surprising that, for many children and young
people, family relationships are both a indicator of wellbeing and also a source of
concern and distress.
Factors Affecting Family Stability and the family relationships
Many factors affect family stability and wellbeing. %hanges occurring over the last "#
years have strongly impacted on traditional family life. *nd the important family
relationships
$hese changes include
increases in divorce,
single parentfamilies,
step and blended families and
the proportion of couples choosing to live in defacto relationships.
When parents separate, the vast ma+ority of children live with their mother in either one
parent families or in step or blended families ,or a high proportion of divorced and
separated fathers, involvement with their children drops off over time and relationships
with children suffer $hus ongoing family relationships suffer.
*fter parents separate, the ma+ority of children live in singleparent families where
family relationships are significantly reduced or put under tension. )n more than half of
these oneparent families the parent is not employed .
With the breakdown of their family and the change to singleparent status many children
suffer economic deprivation as a result of their lower socioeconomic status resulting in
further stress. $hey also suffer the loss of the nurturing family relationships usually
found within most families.
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(iven that couples state the main reason for separation and divorce as being relationship
problems such as lack of communication, feelings of neglect and constant arguments, it
follows that many children are e&periencing these problems as well and the decline in
the health of family relationships follows.
-ven in 'healthy' families conflict occurs. %hildren are often the forgotten participants of
family disruption and conflict between parents even though the tensions within family
relationships is significantly impacted upon them.
What concerns young people about family relationships breakdown?
Many young people are deeply concerned when e&periencing family breakdown,
separation or divorce. $hese young people talk about their feelings of distress, confusion
and grief, about deciding which parent to live with, unhappiness with custody or access
arrangements and breakdown in their family relationships with a parent are also
frequent concerns.
$he nature and severity of young people's concerns relating to family conflict and
disruption and breakdown of family relationships vary widely. $hese concerns can be
loosely grouped into the following issues.
,ighting and arguments between parents/
sibling disputes over sharing resources or responsibilities/
issues around discipline/
the need for acknowledgment, time or affection from parents/
'getting into trouble' for various misdemeanours/
teenagers seeking greater independence/
and the myriad of other issues that arise in families over affections,
responsibilities, resources and privacy.
$he family unit is central to society because it is where social behaviour is learnt and
transmitted from one generation to another it is the unit in which both personality and
society are forged. )n this the domain, healthy family relationships are crucial.
0eace and stability within the family and family relationships are the bedrock of future
wellbeing for both individuals and policymakers recognise the importance of family and
prioritise resources to assist families to more adequately respond to their responsibilities.
Saaron89@hotmail.com
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