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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 Betty Carter & Monica McGoldrick(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
See also
References & Bibliography
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.
Papers
Additional material
Books
Papers
External links
- [1.pdf chapter from "Theories of human development"]