THE FAMILYAS A SYSTEM

• Parents influence children

• Children influence parents

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

• More single adults

• Postponement of marriage

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

American Cohabiting Couples by Presence of Children

(1960 – 1998)

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

• More single adults

• Postponement of marriage

• Less childbearing

• More females in labor force

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

• More single adults

• Postponement of marriage

• Less childbearing

• More females in labor force

• More divorce

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

• More single adults

• Postponement of marriage

• Less childbearing

• More females in labor force

• More divorce

• More single-parent families

THE FAMILY

The single-parent, post divorce family is a common phenomenon of the past two decades; now, however, the number of children living with single parents who never married is almost equal to the number living with single parents who are divorced. In 1970, just 7% of American children in single-parent homes had a never-married parent. Source: U.S. Census data; 1994.

THE FAMILY

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

• More single adults

• Postponement of marriage

• Less childbearing

• More females in labor force

• More divorce

• More single-parent families

• More children in poverty

THE FAMILY

CHANGES IN FAMILY SYSTEMS

(in the latter half of this century)

•More remarriage

THE FAMILY

THE FAMILY

SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS

• Sibling rivalry

• Siblings:

•comfort and secure base

•role models

•teachers

•equal-status playmates

•managers/caretakers

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY

• Adoption

• Gay and Lesbian Families

Sexual orientation of adult children raised by lesbian mothers, gay fathers, and single-parent heterosexual mothers. Adapted from Bailey et al., 1995: Golombok & Tasker, 1996.

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY

• Adoption

• Gay and Lesbian Families

• Divorce

Effects on Children:

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY

The Effects of Divorce on Children:

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY

Factors Mediating the Effects of Divorce on Children:

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY

• Adoption

• Gay and Lesbian Families

• Divorce

• Remarriage and Blended Families

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY

Remarriage and Blended Families

• Mother – Stepfather families

• Father – Stepmother families

• Age and family Constellation

Handout article on abuse & stepfamilies

THE NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY