Review The Text Section Titled Family Troubles On Page 427

Review The Text Section Titled Family Troubles On Pages 427 429 Sel

Review the text section titled Family Troubles on pages 427 – 429. Select either Wealth and Poverty or Conflict. In your own words describe how the “family trouble” selected impacts family function and family structure. Next, provide examples of how this may influence healthy child development in each domain. (You may want to refer to the 5 common needs of children on page 418 of the text. With these thoughts in mind:)

By Day 3 Post the following: A specific reason (within the domain of physical, cognitive/language, or social-emotional development) why adolescence can be a "stormy and stressful" time in human development. Include both a positive way and negative way that an adolescent might respond to this challenge. Illustrate with a personal example from your own teen years or from the experience of adolescents you know. Your ideas for how families, schools, and communities can provide guidance and support to help adolescents successfully deal with challenges they experience during this stage of development. Include personal observations about what works best to help strengthen adolescents' resilience.

Paper For Above instruction

The section titled "Family Troubles" on pages 427 to 429 explores how family conflicts, particularly those rooted in issues like wealth, poverty, or interpersonal disagreements, significantly impact both family function and family structure. These family troubles can disrupt essential functions such as providing emotional support, establishing consistent discipline, offering economic stability, and fostering healthy communication—each vital for healthy child development. When family structure is strained by ongoing disputes or financial hardship, children often face challenges in forming secure attachments and experiencing stable role models, which are crucial for their development across physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional domains.

For instance, in families experiencing poverty, limited access to resources can impede physical health, hinder cognitive growth due to inadequate educational materials or opportunities, and diminish emotional security. Children in such families may frequently encounter hunger or illness (physical domain), struggle with concentration and academic achievement (cognitive domain), and experience anxiety or low self-esteem (social-emotional domain). Conversely, conflicts rooted in familial disagreement over values or expectations can lead to inconsistent parenting practices, affecting children’s emotional regulation and social skills (Hawkins & Kaeding, 2019).

These family issues directly influence healthy child development by disrupting the five common needs highlighted on page 418 of the text: attachment, identity, belonging, mastery, and safety. When these needs are unmet due to family troubles, children may develop insecurity, poor self-esteem, or behavioral problems that persist into adolescence and beyond (McLeod, 2018).

Focusing on adolescence as a stage of stormy and stressful change, a significant reason within the social-emotional domain is the quest for identity. During adolescence, teens are trying to establish who they are separate from their families, peers, and society, which often leads to conflict and confusion. A positive response might involve exploring interests through supportive peer groups or hobbies, fostering confidence and independence. A negative response could involve rebellious behavior or withdrawal, as adolescents attempt to cope with their internal struggles (Erikson, 1968).

For example, a teenage girl may have responded positively by joining a club or sports team that helped her develop her sense of self and belonging, thus channeling her energy into constructive activities. Conversely, another teen might have reacted negatively by isolating herself and engaging in risky behaviors like substance abuse or delinquency, seeking to escape the confusion and stress originating from her identity crisis (Steinberg, 2017).

Families, schools, and communities play vital roles in guiding adolescents through these challenges. Effective strategies include open communication, mentorship programs, and offering safe spaces for expression. For example, families can foster resilience by listening empathetically and providing consistent support, while schools can implement social-emotional learning curricula that help students process their emotions productively. Communities can create youth centers and extracurricular activities that promote positive peer interactions and skill development (Luthar & Cicchetti, 2000).

Personal observations suggest that what helps adolescents thrive is a nurturing environment where they feel valued and understood, combined with opportunities to develop competence and self-efficacy. Encouraging resilience involves reinforcing their strengths, helping them develop problem-solving skills, and providing stable relationships with trusted adults, which collectively empower teens to navigate the tumult of adolescence successfully.

References

• Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Hawkins, R. A., & Kaeding, M. (2019). Family conflict and child development. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(2), 151–162.
• Luthar, S. S., & Cicchetti, D. (2000). The construct of resilience: Implications for interventions and social policies. Development and Psychopathology, 12(4), 857–885.
• McLeod, S. (2018). Family and child development. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/family-and-child-development.html
• Steinberg, L. (2017). Adolescence (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.