Editorial: Community Development through Family Well-Being
In: The open family studies journal, Band 7, Heft 1, S. 1-2
ISSN: 1874-9224
The year 2014 was considered as the twentieth
anniversary year of the family and in a sense acknowledges
the important role of the family in society. Families are
central to communities and one could almost consider the
family-community connection to be a loop. In other words,
when families are functioning well communities fare very
well, which then relates back to families. But how are we to
understand this important role of the family?
Families are defined in different ways. According to
Braithwaite and Baxter [1] "a family is a social group of two
or more persons characterized by ongoing interdependence,
with long term commitments that stem from blood, law and
affection". Chambers [2] believes that families are not a
fixed concept but can rather be described beyond blood lines
into a socially constructed concept. In South Africa, in terms
of family policy, the family is defined "as a public group of
people that is directly related (by blood), related by adoption
or fostering or through marriage" [3].
In describing a family, there are often two very broad
terms used which are functional and dysfunctional families.
These descriptions are often determined by the processes or
functions/practices between and amongst family members.
Family functioning includes the manner in which family
members relate to and with one another including how they
search for goals, activities the family engages in together and
separately, and acceptance of family practices. Furthermore,
when a family is functioning well, family members hardly
develop psychological problems, they perform tasks
together, are able to deal with problems, and have
understandable restrictions [4]. These are well functioning
families, but families also do not function very well and
these families could be considered as unhealthy and
dysfunctional, often described as at-risk [5]. Both terms have
consequences especially for future adults.
In describing a family, there are often two very broad
terms used which are functional and dysfunctional families.
These descriptions are often determined by the processes or
functions/practices between and amongst family members.
Family functioning includes the manner in which family
members relate to and with one another including how they
search for goals, activities the family engages in together and
separately, and acceptance of family practices. Furthermore,
when a family is functioning well, family members hardly
develop psychological problems, they perform tasks
together, are able to deal with problems, and have
understandable restrictions [4]. These are well functioning
families, but families also do not function very well and
these families could be considered as unhealthy and
dysfunctional, often described as at-risk [5]. Both terms have
consequences especially for future adults.the control and responsibility rests with the family. In this
special issue, six articles highlight issues in the family which
have consequences for family members and the community,
either overtly or covertly. The article of Frantz, Sixaba &
Smith focuses on family structure and the effects on health
risk behavior of young people in Africa. This article
highlights the plight of orphans living with caregivers, the
definitive relationship between sexual risk behavior and
family structure and provides the evidence that sexual risk
behaviors loops back to HIV/AIDS in African countries. In
this article gender, race and culture play a role in the
relationship. In the article by Ryan, Roman & Okwany
parental monitoring and communication are explored as
important in the prevention, delay and reduction of substance
abuse and risky sexual activity. These studies suggest that
culture acts as a buffer against adolescent risk behaviors and
that the mental health of parents is also important in the
monitoring and communication with their adolescents. The
Jacobs & Jacobs study focuses on mothers who are
alcoholics and provides family narrations of secrecy, shame
and silence but also highlights coping and recovery for
alcoholics. Londt, Davids & Wilson used Social Learning
Theory as a lens to understand the role of the family in the
chronic denial of imprisoned sex offenders. These
imprisoned sex offenders were raised in single-parent
households with absent fathers, domestic violence substance
abuse, unsatisfactory support and compromised parenting
styles were prevalent. In the Mukasano, Schenck & van der
Merwe article, a qualitative study explores parents'
experiences of their adolescents engaging in mobile texting.
Parents find themselves having to monitor and negotiate
rules and expectations with their adolescents. The study
emphasizes the importance of communication and trust,
respect and preparing for the disengagement process between members. Furthermore, substances are abused, physical,
sexual and emotional abuse are present and children lack
support and care. Within these families, there is the daily
challenge of meeting the needs of family members. This
could be due to the socio-economic circumstances of the
family which in turn deprives family members of necessary
resources and other social support. As a result, this
undermines the ability of family members to perform
expected functions and consequently results in the exposure
to risk. Subsequently, at-risk families need additional
support in order to cope with the myriad of challenges they
face. This support may be in the form of other family
members, community members or from government.
Additionally, this support could also strengthen the family.
Families should be seen as the entry point for service
delivery and the subsequent building and development of
communities [3]. Therefore, family relations, which are good
and strong are important for the wellbeing of the individual,
family and community [7]. In other words, family wellbeing
is a concept that goes beyond economic wealth and includes
physical and emotional health as well as safety and good
quality relationships [7]. Similarly, family well-being and
family functioning assume that families work best and
contribute to society when there is a balance between the
economic and non-economic factors [8] but it is very
complex because family wellbeing is a multi-dimensional
concept with different dimensions. These include providing
financial support, good housing or access to services [9].
How does family well-being then relate to community
development?
The creation, development and growth of communities is
dependent on families. For example, when families are not
doing well, the family members will act out that is outside of
the family. This acting out often occurs within the
community and could be the engaging in antisocial behavior,
substance abuse, violence, etc. These behaviours
subsequently break down communities instead of building
them up. The same could be said for the effects of family
wellbeing. Tsey et al. [10] found that family wellbeing is an
enabler for people to take control and responsibility of their
own situations but more importantly, once they are able to
do this, there is a ripple effect on increasing harmony and
capacity to address issues within the wider community.
Clearly, there is a relationship between family wellbeing
and the overt and covert development of communities but parent and child. The final article of Jooste & Maritz is an
exploration of the perceptions of healthcare professionals
and family members regarding youth's experiences of
trauma. This article found that when youth experience
trauma, there is a ripple effect onto other family members
and the larger community which resulted in the entire system
feeling helpless and depleted of resources to cope.
