III.

THE FAMILY

Objectives:
o Define a family.
o Identify the types, tasks and characteristics of a family.

A. Family as Basic Unit of the Society

Family (RNPedia, 2019b)
⮚ Basic unit in society, and is shaped by all forces surround it.
▪ Values, beliefs, and customs of society influence the role and function of the family (invades
every aspect of the life of the family)
⮚ Is a unit of interacting persons bound by ties of blood, marriage or adoption.
▪ Constitute a single household, interacts with each other in their respective familial roles and
create and maintain a common culture.
⮚ An organization or social institution with continuity (past, present, and future). In which there
are certain behaviors in common that affect each other.

B. Types

1. Family as a Client

Characteristics of a Family as a Client

The family is a product of time and place
▪ A family is different from other family who lives in another location in many ways.
▪ A family who lived in the past is different from another family who lives at present in many
ways.
The family develops its own lifestyle
▪ Develop its own patterns of behavior and its own style in life.
▪ Develops their own power system which either be:
o Balance - the parents and children have their own areas of decisions and control.
o Strongly Bias - one member gains dominance over the others.
The family operates as a group
▪ A family is a unit in which the action of any member may set of a whole series of reaction
within a group, and entity whose inner strength may be its greatest single supportive factor
when one of its members is stricken with illness or death.
The family accommodates the needs of the individual members.
▪ An individual is unique human being who needs to assert his or herself in a way that allows
him to grow and develop.
▪ Sometimes, individual needs and group needs seem to find a natural balance:
1. The need for self-expression does not over shadow consideration for others.
2. Power is equitably distributed.
3. Independence is permitted to flourish.
The family relates to the community
▪ Family develops a stance with respect to the community:
1. The relationship between the families is wholesome and reciprocal; the family utilizes
the community resources and in turn, contributes to the improvement of the
community.
2. There are families who feel a sense of isolation from the community.
▪ Families who maintain proud, “We keep to ourselves” attitude.
▪ Families who are entirely passive taking the benefits from the community without
either contributing to it or demanding changes to it.
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The family has a growth cycle

▪ Families pass through predictable development stages (Duvall & Miller, 1990)
STAGES:
Stage 1: MARRIAGE & THE FAMILY
▪ Involves merging of values brought into the relationship from the families of
orientation.
▪ Includes adjustments to each other’s routines (sleeping, eating, chores, etc.), sexual
and economic aspects.
▪ Members work to achieve 3 separate identifiable tasks:
1. Establish a mutually satisfying relationship
2. Learn to relate well to their families of orientation
3. If applicable, engage in reproductive life planning
Stage 2: EARLY CHILDBEARING FAMILY
▪ Birth or adoption of a first child which requires economic and social role changes ▪
Oldest child: 2-1/2 years
Stage 3: FAMILY WITH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
▪ This is a busy family because children at this stage demand a great deal of time
related to growth and development needs and safety considerations.
▪ Oldest child: 2-1/2 to 6 years old
Stage 4: FAMILY WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
▪ Parents at this stage have important responsibility of preparing their children to be
able to function in a complex world while at the same time maintaining their own
satisfying marriage relationship.
▪ Oldest child: 6-12 years old
Stage 5: FAMILY WITH ADOLESCENT CHILDREN
▪ A family allows the adolescents more freedom and prepare them for their own life
as technology advances-gap between generations increases
▪ Oldest child: 12-20 years old
Stage 6: THE LAUNCHING CENTER FAMILY
▪ Stage when children leave to set their own household-appears to represent the
breaking of the family
▪ Empty nests
Stage 7: FAMILY OF MIDDLE YEARS
▪ Family returns to two partners nuclear unit
▪ Period from empty nest to retirement
Stage 8: FAMILY IN RETIREMENT/OLDER AGE
Stage 9: PERIOD FROM RETIREMENT TO DEATH OF BOTH SPOUSES

2. Family as a System

The family as a system is based on a theory introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen (The Family System
Theory) that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather
as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Families are systems of interconnected
and interdependent individuals, none of whom can be understood in isolation from the system.
According to Bowen, a family is a system in which each member had a role to play and rules to
respect. Members of the system are expected to respond to each other in a certain way according to
their role, which is determined by relationship agreements. Within the boundaries of the system,
patterns develop as certain family member's behavior is caused by and causes other family member's
behaviors in predictable ways. Maintaining the same pattern of behaviors within a system may lead
 to balance in the family system, but also to dysfunction. For example, if a husband is depressive and
cannot pull himself together, the wife may need to take up more responsibilities to pick up the slack.
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The change in roles may maintain the stability in the relationship, but it may also push the family
towards a different equilibrium. This new equilibrium may lead to dysfunction as the wife may not be
able to maintain this overachieving role over a long period of time.

C. Functions Developmental Stages

Ackerman States that the Function of Family are:

1. Insuring the physical survival of the species
2. Transmitting the culture, thereby insuring man’s humanness
▪ Physical functions of the family are met through parents providing food, clothing and shelter,
protection against danger, provision for bodily repairs after fatigue or illness, and through
reproduction.
▪ Affectional function – the family is the primary unit in which the child tests his emotional
reactions.
▪ Social functions – include providing social togetherness, fostering self-esteem and a personal
identity tied to family identity, providing opportunity for observing and learning social and
sexual roles, accepting responsibility for behavior and supporting individual creativity and
initiative.

Universal Function of the Family by Doode

▪ REPRODUCTION – for replacement of members of society: to perpetuate the human species
▪ STATUS PLACEMENT of individual in society
▪ BIOLOGICAL and MAINTENANCE of the young and dependent members
▪ SOCIALIZATION and CARE of the children
▪ SOCIAL CONTROL

D. Family Health Task

▪ Health task differ in degrees from family to family
▪ TASK - is a function, but with work or labor overtures assigned or demanded of the person
▪ Duvall & Miller identified 8 task essential for a family to function as a unit:

Eight Family Tasks (Duvall & Miller)

1. Physical maintenance- provides food shelter, clothing, and health care to its members
being certain that a family has ample resources to provide
2. Socialization of Family– involves preparation of children to live in the community and
interact with people outside the family.
3. Allocation of Resources- determines which family needs will be met and their order of
priority.
4. Maintenance of Order– task includes opening an effective means of communication
between family members, integrating family values and enforcing common regulations for
all family members.
5. Division of Labor – who will fulfill certain roles e.g., family provider, home manager,
children’s caregiver
6. Reproduction, Recruitment, and Release of family member
7. Placement of members into larger society –consists of selecting community activities such
as church, school, politics that correlate with the family beliefs and values
8. Maintenance of motivation and morale– created when members serve as support people
 to each other

5 Family Health Tasks (Maglaya, A., 2004)

▪ Recognizing interruptions of health development
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▪ Making decisions about seeking health care/ to take action

▪ Dealing effectively health and non-health situations
▪ Providing care to all members of the family
▪ Maintaining a home environment conducive to health maintenance

E. Characteristics of a Healthy Family (Stone-Clemen, Eigsti, McGuire 1991)

∙ Can engage in flexible role patterns
∙ Responsive to the needs of individual members
∙ Have dynamic problem-solving mechanisms
∙ Have the ability to accept help
∙ Observes open communication patterns
∙ Involves the experience of trust and respect in a warm and caring atmosphere ∙ Capable to
create and maintain constructive relationships with broader neighborhood and community

References for THE FAMILY

Maglaya, A. S. (2004). Nursing practice in the community. Marikina City, Philippines: Argonauta
Corporation.
RNmedia. (2019b). Family Health Nursing. Retrieved from https://www.rnpedia.com/nursing
notes/community-health-nursing-notes/family-health-nursing/