© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Problems Confronting Families Divorce Rate Intimate Partner Violence Child Abuse and Neglect Sibling abuse Elderly abuse Alcoholism

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Universal Principles All couples and families experience stress Stressors begin or end in the family Resources must be found to cope All couples and families have internal strengths Internal resources tend to be used before external resources

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Nature of Stress Stressors—external events that cause an emotional or physical reaction Stress—body’s reaction to demand Curvilinear—nature of stress in which too much, too little stress is problematic Distress—unhealthy feelings or reaction to event Eustress—positive response to event

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Curvilinear Nature of Stress

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Stress and Family Life Stress can emerge as a result of common life and family events e.g. having a child Stress can occur as a result of unexpected events e.g. death of a child Stress can occur when common life events happen at unexpected time e.g. teenage daughter having a child

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Boundary Ambiguity Lack of clarity about whether a person is in or out of the family High ambiguity associated with increased stress Forms: Psychological presence but physical absence Physical presence, but psychological absence Boss, 1999, 2001

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Interconnection in Various Types of Stress

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Common Life Events Across Stages of the Life Cycle that Produce Stress Uncompleted tasks Emotional difficulties in family life Unstable economic situation Economic investments Medical and/or dental expenses Money for basics Change in jobs or career Olson, McCubbin and Colleagues, 1989

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Can result from combat or other traumatic events Estimated that 10% of soldiers may have PTSD Domestic violence 5.4 times greater than those without disorder

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family Coping Strategies Cognitive Emotional Relationship oriented Community Spiritual Individual Development Burr & Klein, 1994

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Marital Violence Marital Violence Correlates More common among young couples Low occupational status Income and job dissatisfaction Socially isolated couples Family of origin violence Larger families

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Physical and Psychological Abuse Physical abuse almost always accompanied by psychological abuse Psychological abuse can occur without physical abuse: Damaging by itself Predictor of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Abuse as a process: Start with psychological—progressing to include physical

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Violent Crimes and Perpetrators

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Cycle of Violence TENSION ACUTE BATTERING HONEYMOON Walker, 2000

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Factors Associated With Spouse Abuse Family of origin Low self esteem Youth Economic stress Isolation Culture Animal abuse Alcohol Male dominance Financial dependency

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Risk Factors for Child Abuse Economic distress Inadequate parenting skills Parental personality problems Chemical abuse Social isolation Special needs child Large family size Domestic violence exposure Violent subculture Violent marriage Single parent Stepparent Greater the number of risk factors—greater the likelihood of abuse

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Perpetrators of Child Maltreatment Administration for Children and Families, 2004