Family life cycle

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Family life has its own rhythm and while this model has its roots in the idea of a nuclear family, the developmental challenges are shared in families with different structures. This model is based on that of Carter & Goldrick(1999) and Carr (2006)

The stages of family life

• Stage 1: Family of origin experiences

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Maintaining relationships with parents, siblings and peers *Completing education
• Developing the foundations of a model of family life

• Stage 2: Leaving home

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Differentiation of self from family of origin and parents and developing adult to adult relationships with parents *Developing intimate peer relationships.
• Beginning work, developing work identity and financial independence.

• Stage 3: Premarriage stage

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Selecting partners
• Developing a relationship
• Deciding to establish own home with someone.

• Stage 4: Childless couple stage

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Developing a way to live together both practically and emotionally
• Adjusting relationships with families of origin and peers to include partner

• Stage 5: Family with young children

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Realigning family system to make space for children
• Adopting and developing parenting roles
• Realigning relationships with families of origin to include parenting and grandparenting roles
• Facilitating children to develop peer relationships

• Stage 6. Family with adolescents

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Adjusting parent-child relationships to allow adolescents more autonomy
• Adjusting family relationships to focus on midlife relationship and career issues
• Taking on responsibility of caring for families of origin

• Stage 7: Launching children

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Resolving midlife issues
• Negotiating adult to adult relationships with children
• Adjusting to living as a couple again
• Adjusting to including in-laws and grandchildren

within the family circle

• Dealing with disabilities and death in the family of origin

• Stage 8: Later family life

During this phase the main tasks are:

• Coping with physiological decline in self and others
• Adjusting to children taking a more central role in family maintenance
• Valuing the wisdom and experience of the elderly
• Dealing with loss of spouse and peers
• Preparation for death, life review, reminiscence and integration

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Key texts

Books

• Carr, A (2006) The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology. Routledge. ISBN 1583918302
• Carter, B. & McGoldrick, M. (1999). The Expanded Family Lifecycle. Individual Family and Social Perspectives (Third edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Additional material

Papers

• Google Scholar