Essay on Family Stress

Introduction

Family stress can come about as a result of various factors. Violence and financial issues are among some of the most common family stressors in many United States' households. Violence can be in the form of child abuse, intimate partner violence or even street crime. These stressors in addition to extra family stressors might lead to various family complication as well as severe medical conditions.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Domestic violence, particularly child abuse has reached epidemic levels in the United States. As of 2008, the number of children that where abused or neglected was approximately 772,000. These kids were neglected, physically and sexually abused, and emotionally or psychologically maltreated. The amounts of child death as a result of abuse and neglect has also risen. Child abuse is mostly as a result of drug abuse by family members, poverty and economic stress, and lack of parenting skills. Another factor that contributes to the increasing reports of violence against kids is the United States' gun control policy. Due to easy access to guns and improper care of this firearms, many people have been killed, committed suicide or suffered nonfatal firearm injuries. When compared to other countries, the statistics of deaths in the US is relatively high.

Other than child abuse, family members may suffer from intimate partner violence. This kind of physical aggression is generally between people who are in intimate relationships, for example, spouses, ex-spouses, and boyfriends and girlfriends. Such incidents include physical assaults, rape and sexual assault, and stalking. Most often, women are the victims of this kind of domestic violence. Since these cases are rarely reported, current statistics is an underestimation of the current situation. Approximately 4.8 and 2.9 million women and men experience intimate partner violence. To curb this vice, victims should seek legal help through the acquisition of restraining order. Additionally, the public should be sensitized about the harmful effects of intimate partner violence.

Finances, especially lack of enough money, is a massive contributor to family stress. Poverty is often linked with physical and psychological health, low literacy, poor housing, and susceptibility to violent aggression. Low-income families are unable to pay for health insurance and healthcare or better accommodation for their children. The failure to cater to family needs leads to stress. The middle-income families are also not immune to financial stressors. When these families accumulate debts, they are likely to experience emotional and psychological unrest. Economic problems can lead to illness or disease.

Apart from the abovementioned stressor, another factor such as disagreements between parents in stepfamilies can create stress in households. Conflicting opinions about children discipline, care of the elderly parents in addition to issues relating to sex life might widen the bridge between spouses and as a result, accumulate stress.

Conclusion

To eliminate family stress, it is essential to understand the family stress model. It is necessary for people to identify the family stressors, their characteristics and the possible symptoms of these factors. Besides, the outcome of these conditions, whether medical or affecting the continuation of the family, should be outlined. It is also important to note that extra family stressors also contribute to the outcome of these situations. Extra family stressors include career, unemployment, life crisis, underemployment and extended families among others. Once a person is conversant with his or her family stress model, intervention can then be taken.