The Role of Sense of Belonging and Family Structure in Adolescent Adjustment

As patterns of union formation and dissolution in adult lives become complex, the living arrangements of American children are becoming increasingly fluid. With a sample ( N = 12,843) drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study attempted to capture this complexity by mapping out children's family structure histories across their early life course, investigating the implications of these arrangements for their general adjustment, and finally, identifying family processes that explained these associations. The findings suggest that a sizable minority of young people experience dynamic family structure arrangements. Moreover, family structure at adolescence best predicted later emotional distress, and family structure at adolescence plus an indicator of cumulative family instability across childhood best predicted current marijuana use. More so than indicators tapping social control, levels of family connectedness and parent—adolescent relationship quality were key conduits for these associations.

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887-P: Moderator Role of Family Protective Factors on the Association between Family Structure Type and Obesity in Children

Diabetes ◽

10.2337/db21-887-p ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 70 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 887-P

Author(s):

MINKYOUNG SONG ◽

LAURA L. HAYMAN ◽

NATHAN DIECKMANN ◽

CAROL MUSIL

Keyword(s):

Protective Factors ◽

Family Structure ◽

Structure Type ◽

Moderator Role ◽

Obesity In Children

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It's about Family: The Death of a Close Family Friend

Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services ◽

10.1606/1044-3894.3867 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 227-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joan Beder

Keyword(s):

Family Structure ◽

Family Member ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Extended Family ◽

Entire System ◽

The Family ◽

Counseling Interventions ◽

Definition Of ◽

Close Family

When an individual dies, the role of the family member(s) is clearly prescribed by society: support, presence, caring, and remembrance. Traditionally, the definition of “family” has broadened to create the “extended family” or “expanded family” with members defined by deep bonds, relationships, and friendships. Currently, close friends who become the extended/expanded family, can be as central as kin to family structure and stability. Therefore, when one member of an extended family dies, the death resonates throughout the entire system affecting not only the lives of the immediate family members, but also those in the expanded circle of family relationships. This article describes the relationships in one extended family and discusses the struggles and counseling interventions used when one member of an extended family suddenly dies.

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