Chapter 9 Flashcards
(50 cards)
What are the core functions families provide?
Stability, support, financial assistance, social interaction, socialization (values, morals, life skills), structure for life transitions.
What kind of institution is family considered?
A core societal institution with prescribed roles.
What are two types of family definitions?
Legal and social definitions.
What is fictive kin?
Non-biological or legal relationships considered family (e.g., close friends treated as family).
What is a census family?
A married/common-law couple (opposite or same sex) with or without children, or a lone parent with children in the same dwelling.
What is an economic family?
Two or more related individuals by blood, marriage, common-law, or adoption living in the same dwelling.
Why is family considered socially constructed?
Because definitions and norms around family vary by society and time.
What’s the difference between focusing on family composition vs. function?
Composition = who is in the family; Function = what the family does (e.g., caregiving, support).
What are vertical and complex ties in families?
More intergenerational (vertical) and varied family configurations (complex).
What is delayed childbearing linked to?
Age-condensed (shorter distance of yrs between parents & grandparents) vs. age-gapped (longer yrs) family structures.
What are truncated families?
Families where relationships are weakened or cut off (e.g., unhappy couples, children side with one parent).
What are reconstituted/blended families?
Families formed through remarriage or new partnerships involving children from previous relationships.
What is older adult cohabitation?
Older adults living together in romantic relationships without marriage.
What role do families still play for older adults?
They provide the majority of care and support.
What does a life course perspective emphasize about families?
Families are dynamic, with changing units and lineages over time.
How is family life embedded?
In historical time and societal context.
What four factors shape later life family relationships?
Number and type of relatives
Contact and interaction patterns
Quality of relationships over life course
Type, direction, and nature of communication and support
Does marital satisfaction increase with age?
Generally yes, though it may vary across the life course.
What does “living apart together” mean?
Romantic couples who live in separate homes
When was same-sex marriage legalized in Canada?
2005 (Federal Civil Marriage Act).
What support structures exist for LGBTQ+ older adults?
Often rely on alternative support systems.
Do most older people have children?
Yes, at least one living child.
Who are the main support providers for older adults?
Spouse first, then adult children.
What is the direction of support exchange over time?
From parent to child, until very late in life.
