The 8 types of families (and their characteristics)

In recent decades, many important changes have emerged in society, and the family is no exception. Since 1975, Divorce figures have doubled leading to an increase in single parent households. Something that, just a few years ago, was not socially accepted.

Nowadays, on the other hand, the phenomenon of divorce is quite common. According to the portal Business Insider, which drew up a graphic map showing the divorce rates in the different countries of the world, Spain ranks fifth with 61% of couple breakups.

The importance of the family in the development of children and young people

The family is extremely important in the development of children, since it is, possibly, the socializing agent that will most influence their growth. In fact, children need adults for a long period of time, which has caused them to All societies are organized around groups of people that we generally know as "the family".

But with the changes that have been happening in recent years regarding family structures,

the smallestAt times, they have had to live in familiar environments that are not always ideal. Families educate their children, and their primary objective should be to provide them with a solid foundation so that they can face the future with the best possible guarantees. In other words, families should help them learn to be respectful of others, to have a strong and resistant personality or acquire emotional and economic security, in short, prepare them for a life successful adult. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Toxic or pathological families

The importance of the family in the emotional well-being of its members has been of scientific interest during the last decades. Not only because of the genetic origin of some pathologies such as schizophrenia, but because of the importance of the environment and the influence of family structures in mental disorders.

In the field of mental health, there is increasing awareness of how difficulties affect family members, so it is necessary for them to face their difficulties in the best way possible. possible way. In this sense, what differentiates a dysfunctional family from a functional one is not the presence or absence of problems, but rather that the important thing is the use of recurring interaction patterns that hinder the social and psychological development of its members, and affects their adaptation and conflict resolution.

• To know more: "Toxic Families: 4 Ways They Cause Mental Disorders"

Stability and change in the family

As mentioned, the normal family, if that concept makes sense, it is not without difficulties or problems, which forces be based on a conceptual framework of family functioning in order to understand their dysfunctionality. The normal family is constantly functioning effectively, and despite difficulties it is capable of transforming, adapting, and restructuring itself over time to continue functioning.

It is important to differentiate the dysfunctional family from the poor family. The latter is characterized by difficulties in satisfying financial resources. Input, poor families don't have to be dysfunctionalHowever, scientific research has provided data that affirms that families with few financial resources may have difficulties in carrying out the different functions relatives. For example, the education or emotional and relational development of their children.

Types of families that exist

Since the family is part of society, it is a structure that can and does change over time. Family structure does not indicate whether a family is functional or not, but simply has to do with its form and the members that comprise it. Something that has a lot to do with the historical, economic and cultural context.

This variety of forms includes the following.

1. Nuclear family (biparental)

The nuclear family It is what we know as a typical family, that is, the family formed by a father, a mother and her children. Societies generally encourage their members to form this type of family.

2. Single parent family

The single parent family It consists in that only one of the parents takes charge of the family unit, and, therefore, in raising the children. It is usually the mother who stays with the children, although there are also cases in which the children stay with the father. When only one parent takes care of the family, it can become a very big burden, which is why they often require help from other close relatives, such as the children's grandparents. The causes of the formation of this type of family can be a divorce, being a premature mother, widowhood, etc.

3. Adoptive family

This type of family, the adoptive family, refers to parents who adopt a child. Although they are not the biological parents, they can play a great role as educators, equivalent to that of the biological parents in all respects.

4. Family without children

This type of family, families without children, are characterized by not having descendants. Sometimes the parents' inability to procreate leads them to adopt a child. In any case, we can perfectly imagine a family unit in which, for one reason or another, they have not wanted or been able to have children. Do not forget that what defines a family is not the presence or absence of children.

5. Family of separated parents

In this type of family, we can call family of separated parents, the parents have separated after a crisis in their relationship. Although they refuse to live together, they must continue to fulfill their duties as parents. Unlike single parents, in which one parent bears the entire burden of raising the child on their back, separated parents share functions, although the mother is, in most cases, the one who lives with the child.

6. Composite family

This family, the compound family, is characterized by being composed of several nuclear families. The most common cause is that other families have formed after the breakup of the couple, and the child in addition to living with his mother and her partner, he also has his father's family and her partner, being able to have step Brothers.

It is a more common type of family in rural settings than in urban settings, especially in contexts where there is poverty.

7. Homoparental family

This type of family, the homoparental family, is characterized by having two gay parents (or mothers) adopting a child. There can also be homoparental families formed by two mothers, obviously. Although this possibility raises a wide social debate, studies have shown that the children of parents or Homoparent mothers have normal psychological and emotional development, as this report from the APA.

8. Extended family

This type of family, the extended family, It is characterized because the upbringing of the children is in charge of different relatives or several family members live (parents, cousins, grandparents, etc.) in the same house. If you have ever seen the famous series "The Prince of Bel Air", you can see how Will lives in his uncle's house, who takes on the role of his uncle's father. It can also happen that one of the children has their own child and they all live under the same roof.

Bibliographic references:

• Martín López, E. (2000). Family and society. Madrid: Rialp Editions.
• Vázquez de Prada, Mercedes (2008). Contemporary family history. Madrid: Rialp Editions.
• Grandson MC. (1997). Family Approach to Health. Femec Magazine of Medicine.
• Pusinato, N. (1992). The systemic approach in the study of family relationships. Cusinato M. Psychology of family relationships, 21 Ed. Barcelona: Editorial Herder.