NORTHWESTERN

UNIVERSITY

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
1. Appraise one’s family structure and the type of care he/she gives and receives,
which may help in understanding himself/herself better
2. Make a genogram and trace certain physical, personality, or behavioral attributes
through generations
3. Prepare a plan on how to make the family members firmer and gentler with each
other

MODULE 9 : FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES

INTRODUCTION:  

The family plays significant roles in the personal development of adolescents. For one
thing, it is the family which serves as the primary support group of adolescents as they journey
towards adulthood. It is a source of emotional security love, care, affection, and
companionship. Both the mother and the father play essential functions in the growth and
development of their children. The type of family structure an individual has and the kind of
relationship between one's parents are believed to have an impact on a person's well-being,
It is a common observation that during adolescence, especially in the middle adolescent
stage, youths somewhat turn back or move away from the care of their families. There is an
inclination towards becoming closer to one's peer groups. Moreover, conflicts usually arise
between adolescents and their respective parents or siblings. But although adolescents normally
try to establish their self-identity and are gearing towards being emotionally and cognitively
independent at this stage, their families remain to have great influence on their personal
development.
The teens, therefore, still need the love and care of their parents or guardian and the
atmosphere of a loving home environment. Especially during difficult times, they still need
someone to come back to for support, encouragement, and unconditional love.

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1. Checkpoint 1

Direction: Write at least 5 ways how to make a family members firmer and gentler with
another.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES

The family is seen as a social institution that has certain important roles for the society
(Lamanna and Riedmann, 2009), such as meeting the needs of its members and enabling
society to survive through its members who contribute significantly to the community.
It is acts as unit of economic cooperation and consumptions, where earning family
members share in the expenses of the whole family.
A family is a group of people who related by marriage, blood, adoption, live together,
and share in the finance of its member (Thomas, 2010)

A family is a cherished cluster of two or more people who

o Live together in a dedicated relationship
o Concern for one another and children
o Share activities and close emotional ties.

The Basic Types of Family Structure

One's family structure has a significant impact on the attitudes and behaviors of an
adolescent. Hence, it is vital for a person to be aware of the structure of the family to which he
or she belongs in order to understand himself or herself better.
Family structure refers "to the combination of relatives that comprise a family.
Classification on this variable considers the presence or absence of: legally married spouses or
common law partners; children, and, other relatives" ("Family Structure of Economic Family,"
n.d.). The following are the basic types of family structure:
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1. Nuclear Family
A nuclear family or elementary family, in its simplest form, comprises a couple and at
least one child. Generally, it is a family group consisting or a pair of adults, and their offspring,
regardless of the number, as nuclear family may have any number of children. Nuclear families
usually center on a married couple-a husband and his wife-hence, are also called conjugal famili
es.
This kind of family structure is the conventional type and is considered to be the ideal ki
nd of family for raising offspring. From this kind of structure, children usually receive sufficient c
are, strength, and stability from their parents. There is the presence of a father and a mother fi
gure which somewhat creates balance to the care given to the children.

2. Single-Parent Family
This kind of family structure consists of one parent, either a father or a mother, exclusiv
ely taking up the responsibility to raise his or her children. Before, single parents were usually
mothers, though nowadays, the number of single fathers is also increasing.
A single parent commonly strives to make both ends meet for his or her household. Rela
tively, therefore, a single-parent family has less time for parenting (as the parent has to work h
ard) and is probably less financially capable. For some reasons nonetheless, members of the sin
gle-parent family are usually close to each other as they do their best to solve problems togethe
r.
The thing with a single-parent family is that there is only one parent figure for the childr
en. Also, less care and support can be given to the children since the parent is likely to be out
most of the time to earn a living.

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3. Extended Family
The extended family is that which extends beyond the immediate family. The basic exa
mple of which is a married couple and its children living with either the husband or the wife's pa
rents. An extended family household is that in which parents and their children co-reside with ot
her members of one parent's family. In other words, an extended family group consists of non-
nuclear family members considered together with nuclear family members.
Extended families commonly include, in one household, near relatives-grandparents, aun
ts, uncles, or cousins-in addition to an immediate family. For instance, when an elderly parent
moves in with his or her children, for caregiving purposes, this results in a formation of an exte
nded family household.
Though the term extended f
amily typically denotes grandparent
s, uncles, aunts, and cousins, it ma
y also refer to a family unit in whic
h several generations live together
within a single household. An exam
ple of a multigenerational househol
d is that with a grandparent as hea
d of household and his adult childre
n having moved in with their childr
en, for economic reasons. In some
cultures, extended family is also ref
erred to as consanguineous family.
As we could see, an extend
ed family is practically a complex family structure. Its complexity may bring about confusion on
the part of the children, especially on their idea of parent figure, household authority, sibling rel
ationship, and relations with relatives.

4. Stepfamily
Also called a reconstituted family, a step family is that which is formed by the joining of
two adults through marriage, cohabitation, or civil partnership, in which either one or both of th
e adults have a child or children from a previous relationship living in their home. In many case
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s, both adults have their respective children from previous unions living with them i
n the same household, hence, this structure is also known as a blended fa mily.
Characteristically, a step-family is that where at least one parent has children, from a for
mer relationship, who are not genetically related to the other parent. A child is referred to as th
e stepchild (stepdaughter or stepson) of his or her biological parent's new spouse, and that pers
on as the stepparent (stepfather or stepmother) of the child. Likewise, a step-sibling (step-brot
her or step-sister) is the son or daughter of a stepparent to whom one is not biologically relate
d.
This family structure's simplicity or complexity may depend on the type of stepfamily tha
t one has, sometimes determined by the number and gender of children brought by each paren
t from their past relationships. As regards relationship in the household, some stepfamilies may
just resemble nuclear families, with some required minor adjustments. On the other hand, some
stepfamilies, as they entail living together with many 'step-people' (not biologically related to a
person), may need extra effort to have a healthy household. Parents may need varied discipline
styles for the children. Furthermore, children may need to be flexible in dealing with various me
mbers of the household.

5. Grandparent Family
A grandparent family is composed of the grandparents and the grandchildren living toge
ther as a family. There is a variety of reasons a grandparent family is produced. This may be du
e to deceased parents, abandonment, or separation. When both parents work abroad, sometim
es children are left to grandparents, thereby producing, in effect, a grandparent family.
In a grandparent family, parental authority is typically held by the grandparents acting a
s the heads of the household. As authorities in households, grandparents are observed to be ge
nerally more lenient wan real parents. If unchecked, leniency may produce 'spoiled brats. Nonet
heless, grandparents acting as parents may be more caring ande to children than real supportiv
e parents, as grandparents are usuany pensioners spending most of their time at home.
Each kind of family structure has its own advantages and disadvantages. We cannot say
that one structure is necessarily the best or that one is automatically better than the other. As l
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ong as the members of the family extend love, care, and support for on e another, f
amily relations could flourish and be successful.
It is important to be knowledgeable about the type of family structure an individual has.
Each family structure has different features and different ways of affecting the development of
adolescents. Below are some of the effects of some family members on the personal
development of the adolescents.

Parents
Even the most compatible couples or parents get into arguments at times due to varied
reasons. But when parents quarrel frequently or more than necessary and the children get to
witness the squabbling and shouting episodes, it would not be surprising if the children's
attitudes and behaviors are adversely affected. The immediate effect could be confusion as
children may be confused as to whether or not they should interfere or take sides between the
disagreeing parents. Adolescents may also carry with them into adulthood these sad
experiences and these may create negative impacts on their well-being.
Children who belong to a household where peace and love reign usually manifest better
emotional and psychological well-being. Most of them do not show behavioral problems such as
aggression, disobedience to authorities, juvenile delinquency, smoking, and drug or alcohol
abuse. Comparatively, they achieve higher grades and are less likely to engage in untimely or
illicit sexual activities and other immoralities. Good relationship with parents may prevent
adolescents from participating in risky and unsound activities.
Parenting styles also have impacts on children. If parents play favorites, the not-so-
favorite children may become jealous and antagonistic. The favored ones, on the other hand,
may become bratty or spoiled as they are used to getting everything they want.
In a single-parent family, especially that which is produced by abandonment, children
may develop a much closer relationship with the abandoned parent and resentment to the
other one who walked out on them. This resentment may lead to being rebellious. And when
conflict with the single parent arises, children may seek satisfaction outside the home and may
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turn to peers for guidance and support.
Parents must always remember that parenthood is a noble vocation that
requires a lot of efforts. Children, on the other hand, must understand that to have a healthy
and peaceful household, they, too, ought to be considerate and supportive to their parents.

Grandparents and Relatives

Grandparents and relatives who exceedingly interfere in running the household are like
'intruders' or 'invaders.' Their presence and the way they relate to members of a family may
affect the personality of the children in that household. Unconsciously, grandparents can be
spoilers producing 'bratty kids.' Some grandparents and other relatives insensitively give
unsolicited pieces of advice to parents concerning issues such as child-rearing and disciplining.
This may lead to disagreements as it may be interpreted as intrusion or privacy invasion. The
children, too, may be confused as regards the notion of household authority.
In the case of grandparent families, the grandparents should take it challenge to
become efficient parents to their grandchildren. According a study, teens who did not have
opportunities to live with both biologie parents are more likely to manifest psychological
affective disorders coche as hyperactivity and depressive tendencies ("Family Facts," n.d.),
Again establishing a sound household is a concerted effort of both those acting as parents and
the children.

Step Parents
In a blended family, adults become step parents to the children of their new partners.
Step parents may pose a threat to the stepchildren. Step parents may be looked up as enemies
by stepchildren, especially that children think that nobody can and should replace their real
parents. The hostile attitude of the stepchildren towards step parents can be a source of
disagreements and disharmony.
Teens living in complicated family structures are more likely to exhibit higher levels of
antisocial behaviors such as running away from home, suspension in school, fighting, violence,
and even some crimes that may result in arrest and imprisonment. Academically, they tend to
have below average performances in school.
Children who are products of parental divorce, annulment, and separation are inclined to
encounter socio-emotional and psychological difficulties. They are more likely to try taking
prohibited drugs. Childhood traumas, emotional neglect, and domestic violence may also
increase their chances of trying out with illegal substances.
To prevent these scenarios, parents in a stepfamily must be extra sensitive, careful, and
supportive to all the children in the household. On their part, the children must possess self-
control and self-discipline. They must be cooperative and not antagonistic to the good
objectives of their parents concerning their household.

Siblings
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Even siblings of the same parents normally have conflicts and
disagreements once in a while. Despite being brought up together in similar
conditions, squabbles among them are inevitable due to differences in interests and
personalities. This is not necessarily unhealthy, unless one would nurse grudges against a
brother or a sister.
Good relation with the siblings is important as it provides the primary opportunity for
social adjustment. Regular interaction with siblings develops social skills. Siblings may serve as
peers. The older ones can provide guidance to the younger siblings and the younger siblings, in
a way, impel the older ones to be responsible and matured. Everyone should therefore serve as
good influence to his or her siblings.

Self Assessment Check

Direction : Upload your family picture. Identify what family picture you have at home. In a sho
rt paragraph, describe your family and explain your family’s social, emotional, and spiritual lega
cies.

Job well done, Northwesternian!

Resources: Reference Book and Online Sources

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