Family life cycle

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 Stage 2: Leaving home Stage 3: Premarriage stage Stage 4: Childless couple stage Stage 5: Family with young children Stage 6. Family with adolescents Stage 7: Launching children Stage 8: Later family life
 * 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
 * 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.
 * During this phase the main tasks are:
 * Selecting partners
 * Developing a relationship
 * Deciding to establish own home with someone.
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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

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

 * Google Scholar