Family Characteristics and Interactions ...

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Family Interaction & Characteristics :Family Interaction & Characteristics Families of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Family Subsystems :Family Subsystems Marital Subsystem Marital partner interactions Parental Subsystem Parent-child interactions Sibling Subsystem Child-child interactions Extended-Family Subsystem Interactions of nuclear family relatives and others who are regarded as family

Family Cohesion :Family Cohesion Family members’ close emotional bonding with each other as well as the level of independence they feel within the family system. Closeness Support Decision Making Commonality

Consequences of Poor Cohesion :Consequences of Poor Cohesion Limited interaction leaves children without the support needed for development. Families become disengaged and spend little, if any, time together. Subsystems weaken and may break apart. FAMILIES CAN BE TOO COHESIVE OR NOT COHESIVE ENOUGH.

Family Adaptability :Family Adaptability The family’s ability to change in response to situational and developmental stress. Power Role relationships Relationship rules

Examples of Poor Adaptability :Examples of Poor Adaptability Families unwilling or unable to adapt. Families who are constantly changing and cause confusion in the family.

Special Challenges: Family Interaction and Characteristics :Special Challenges: Family Interaction and Characteristics Nature of the exceptionality Severity Age of onset Family health Physical Mental Coping styles Varies even within families

Special Challenges: Family Interaction and Characteristics :Special Challenges: Family Interaction and Characteristics Families in poverty Families with substance abuse Parents with disabilities Photo from “Through the Looking Glass” website (http://www.lookingglass.org/). TLG is an organization of and for parents with disabilities.

End of Lecture :End of Lecture