Exam 3

Question 1

Illustrate the implications surrounding the average number of children per household

Answer 1

Middle class families are getting smaller
2 children on average
Many families are opting to only have 1 child
Larger families are typically the families with the least amount of resources
Birth order is important

Question 2

The dynamics and challenges of single-mother household

Answer 2

Majority are either divorced or never married
They face more economic and employment difficulties than single-parent fathers
More likely to live in poverty

Question 3

Discuss the implications of parental separation on custody arrangements

Answer 3

Standards that court officials may apply in determining the custody arrangements of children following the divorce:
Custody should be awarded to either one or both parents according to the best interests of the child
Custody may be awarded to the persons other than the father or mother whenever such awards serves the best interests of the child

Question 4

role of a grandparent

Answer 4

Following the divorce, grandparents have few legal rights to visit, or be a part of, their grandchildren’s lives
Depending on the state, grandparents may not be allowed to see their grandchildren if the custodial parent disapproves
If visitation continues it is because the court perceives it to be in the best interest of the child

Question 5

Describe the effects of role strain on parenting by women

Answer 5

Divorced women experience different degrees of role strain from that experiences by divorced men
They must function as the sole full-time parent in their new family system
Employment becomes their highest priority
(Attention for children decreases and childcare/personal needs get less time)

Question 6

Birth order average characteristics

Answer 6

Older-Rule follower, eaze, adult communication, responsible
Middle- good peace makers, go with the flow
Youngest- showered with attention, comedian, more which demand attention

Question 7

dynamics and challenges of single-father households

Answer 7

These types of families have increased
Typically, single fathers make more money than single mothers
There are 2 avenues for fathers to get custody:
Many are assertive of this right because they feel they are capable
Mothers may not want to parent or may lose their rights

Question 8

Challenges of Nonresidential, Noncustodial Fathers

Answer 8

Fathers who don’t share a home with their child face the risk of gradually fading from their child’s life
Being a nonresidential, noncustodial father seems to incerase men’s risk of injury, addiction, and premature death
This may be a reaction to grief/loss
Could reflect possible irresponsible behavior that contributed to the divorce
Payment of child support and emotional involvement have positive impacts on the well-being of the child

Question 9

Managing coparenting arrangements

Answer 9

Establish new rules and boundaries regarding their coparenting relationship
Resist the temptation to involve children in the adult business of the divorce
Maintain open lines of communication to resolve differences

“Pain games”= unhealthy ways to express negative emotions related to divorce. Involves:
Discounting of the other parent (negative comments, derogatory labels)
Messanger/Go between (“Tell them…”
I spy (“What did you do over there?” “Who was there?”)

Question 10

Describe the effects of role strain on parenting by men

Answer 10

Single parent fathers experience role strain differently
Tend to share household management tasks with their children (mostly daughters) rather than get outside help
Or, they may intentionally not involve their children to prove they can do it

Question 11

Sandwitch generation

Answer 11

The middle generation who care for their own children, as well as their aging parents
These individuals experience role strain and possible burnout. Especially if they are also juggling career obligations and partnership/marriage

Question 12

Discuss the implications on the family system when parenting is interrupted

Answer 12

Sometimes, parenting is “interrupted” due to career obligations, military service, health issues, substance abuse, etc.
Family system has restribute its power and all the remaining family member pool their reousrces to find a new homeostasis or equilibrium
Quality oof parental relationship lasts into adulthood
Recovery from negative childhood experiences is possible
Memories of a happy childhood will sustain and inspire indivudlas throughout their lives

Question 13

Explain what is considered a “fragile family” and how it affect child well-being

Answer 13

Fragile families are families who are more vulnerable or at a higher risk because of economic, health, biological, or social factors
Increasesing factors:
Poverty is limited resources (economic or other)
Limited education (underserved school; dropping out)
Lack of vocational skills, low income jobs, employment difficulty
Chronic illness, disability, depression, behavioral problems
Social isolation, lack of support, dependence on welfare

Question 14

The role of external development assets

Answer 14

support
boundaries
expectations
constructive use of time

Question 15

The role of internal development assets (personality characteristics)

Answer 15

commitment to learning
positive values
social competencies
positive identity

Question 16

Propose a plan of action for a family in crisis

Question 17

Describe the way grief affects families

Answer 17

Children’s grief looks different at various levels of development
Children should be encouraged to participate in funeral rituals
Children expreience grief in intense bursts throughout their developmental experience
The loss of a parent can bring secondary losses as well

Question 18

Evaluate the role of open communication in fighting drug abuse within families

Answer 18

When an adult family member develops substance use and addictive, he or she believes that the solution to a problem can be addressed by a using a substance
The addictive substance functions to medicate the user in the short term, allowing him or her to cope
The user may lose control over the ability to stop using the substance

Question 19

Examine the implications of parental addiction on children and families

Answer 19

Children may not be aware that one or both of their parents have substance use or addictive disorder
Since they observed destructive patterns modeled by their parents, it is unlikely that they know what constitutes healthy family life
The addiction problem becomes a family secret with three basic rules:
1. Dont talk about your parent’s problems because it is a family secret
2. Dont trust on anyone outside the family to understand the problem
3. Don’t feel anything because this destroy the integrity of the family
A cycle of violence is maniefested in two ways:
1. Individuals who had violent and abusive childhoods tend to become abusers of their own children
2. A 3-phase sequence in the expression of violent behavior begins with increasing tension, a loss of control that is manifested by violent behavior, and a reconciliation period

Question 20

Child abuse: Neglect

Answer 20

Physical & emotional neglect of children reported most frequently as type of maltreatment
Parents who are caught and reported for child neglect for the first time may have recently experienced a family crisis such as an illness, divorce, or desertion
Often parents live in poverty and expereince high levels of stress that are accompanied by depression and anxiety

Question 21

Child abuse- Physical abuse of children

Answer 21

Many parents who were physically abused as children are not aware that what they are doing is wrong/harmful
Strong beliefs about using physical punishment to teach children how to behave
Generally have a low tolerance for children’s misbehavior
They find themselves in situations which are highly stressful, without sufficient support, and without adequate coping skills

Question 22

Child abuse- Emotional abuse of children

Answer 22

Parents who emotionally abuse children experience low levels of self-esteem
They have poor coping skills and lack child management skills
Damages a child’s trust and well-being

Question 23

Child abuse- Sexual abuse of children

Answer 23

The majority of adults who sexually molest children are other relatives (incest) and nonrelatives with whom the child is familiar

Question 24

Report the incidence of divorce and remarriage in the US

Answer 24

Remarriage is more likely after a divorce than if you are widowed
Remarriages are a high risk; they have a higher chance of divorce
Couples who have stable, high functioning remarriages report greater satisfaction and pride than first-marriage couples

Question 25

Stepmothers (blended family) aspects

Answer 25

Families in which the mother role is filled by a stepmother have more problems than those with a stepfather
Stepmother myths
Stepmothers may overcompensate in order to challenge these myths
Relationships with stepmothers depend on the age and gender of the child
Characteristics of successfully adapted stepmother include:
-gaining support from outside and inside the family system
-positive attitude
-positive communication styles
-working towards the quality of the marital relationship

Question 26

Stepfathers (blended family) aspects

Answer 26

This role is less structured and there are less myths to overcome
Advantage:
-can forge a new identity and impression when establishing a relationship
Disadvantage:
-stepfathers are less likely to be authoritative in parenting style when compared to biological fathers
-disagreements may occur over how the stepfather disciplines the children
Girls tend to reject their stepfather and leave the blended family at an earlier age than those who grow up in single-parent or two-parent households

Question 27

Step-grandparents (blended family) aspects

Answer 27

The legal status of step-grandparents is not clear
Step-grandparents are more likely to view young step-grandchildren as welcome additions to the family when an adult child remarries
The quality of step-grandparent/step-grandchild relationship appears to be influenced by the adult child

Question 28

Summarize the role of conflict as experienced in blended families

Answer 28

It is not unusual for ex-spouses to experience feelings of jealousy, anger, and competition with their former partners
Ex-in-laws may also harbor similar feelings of resentment
In other situations, ex-spouses and ex-in-laws collaborate to make the situation amicable
2 coparenting dyads at play:
1- biological parents who have to find ways to coparent successfully from binuclear households
2-the 2 persons fulfilling parental roles within the blended family; 1 is a biological parent and 1 is the stepparent

Question 29

Assess the cultural, social, and economic factors influencing the pattern of intergenerational families

Answer 29

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Question 30

Changing legal landscape and concomitant legal implications in regards to LGBTQ+

Answer 30

In 2015, the US supreme court ruled same-sex marriage to be legal nationwide
People in the LGBTQ+ community are adopting children or finding a path to parenthood

Question 31

Describe the impact that coming-out could have on a family system

Answer 31

There may be feelings of ambigious loss
May be negative reactions and interpretations
Can escalate in communities where bias, discrimination, and violence persist

Question 32

Evaluate the similarities and differences between same-sex and heterosexual parenting outcomes

Answer 32

Many parents who are LGBTQ+ have positive relationships with their children
-Tend to be nontraditional and model gender equal behaviors
-more responsive to their children’s needs and provide more explanations for the rules
-sexual orientation is not a factor in determining the quality of parenting

Dealing with parent’s disclosure
Coping with possivle custody concerns
Dealing with reactions of others

Lack legitimacy, pressure to maintain family secrets to sexual orientation, strained relationships with ex-spouses/other relatives, division of labor & parental roles take on unique assignments