The family disintegration it is the separation of a couple with children and the consequences that this fact causes. When one of the members of the family nucleus leaves, a destabilization in the functioning of the same is generated. This problem has become increasingly serious in developed societies..
Due to the increasingly high rate of divorces and separations, more and more families in which the family nucleus is disintegrated. The main affected by this are children, although all those involved tend to suffer negative consequences.
At the same time, family breakdown may be caused by reasons other than the breakup of the couple. For example, the death of one of the spouses, their transfer to another country or abandonment may also be behind this complex situation..
In this article we will study why exactly family disintegration occurs, as well as what the most serious consequences are and the ways in which we can try to solve it..
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The most basic form of family disintegration is the abandonment of the home by one of the parents. However, this can occur for many different reasons. Next we will see some of the most common.
Undoubtedly, one of the factors that has most influenced the increase in cases of family disintegration is the enormous number of divorces that have occurred in Western countries. In recent decades, more and more married couples decide to separate and go their own way.
The causes for the increase in divorces are multiple and very complex. For example, the appearance of laws that allow separation without any negative consequence would be one of the most important.
On the other hand, the woman's access to the world of work and thus her economic independence from her husband has also allowed them to end relationships with which they are not comfortable. This would help explain why more than 70% of divorces and separations are initiated by women..
Finally, in Western societies, we have moved from a model in which the family was valued above all else to being especially concerned about our individual well-being..
In general, this causes that, if someone feels a problem in a relationship, they tend to end it instead of trying to solve what happens.
The cases in which one of the members of the couple cheats on the other or leaves him have also increased a lot in recent decades. This can often be even more traumatic for children than an amicable divorce..
The consequences of these situations can be permanent or only temporary separation; but, due to the greater emotional burden they carry, children can be marked even if a reconciliation occurs in the end.
In the event that one of the parents dies while the children are young, they will suffer many of the consequences of a family disintegration caused by other reasons.
Although of course it is impossible to control these situations, it is necessary to be aware of how the death of one of the parents can affect the smallest of the house.
Due to the economic instability of certain countries, some family members have to go to live in another country to get money to support their children.
In this case, even if there are no serious emotional conflicts between the parents, negative consequences can also occur if the situation is badly managed.
It is also possible that one of the parents has to go to live in another country temporarily for work reasons. This tends to cause fewer problems for children, but it is still a delicate situation..
One of the most serious reasons for the appearance of family disintegration is violence. When one of the adults assaults the other, the children can be psychologically scarred. In these cases, it is usually necessary that they receive help from a professional.
Finally, the loss of a parent due to addiction of any kind can also be a very traumatic event for children..
Having an alcoholic father or a mother addicted to gambling will generate all kinds of negative emotions and dangerous situations in the lives of the little ones.
Undoubtedly, although the members of the separated couple also suffer, those most affected by family disintegration are the children.
Numerous studies suggest that these situations bring all kinds of serious consequences to the lives of the little ones. Next we will see some of the most important.
Various research suggests that children of broken families tend to be more violent and aggressive than those who have grown up in a safe environment. In addition, they also tend to have more problems with the law.
This appears to be especially true if the member leaving the family is the father, for reasons that are not yet entirely clear..
Another of the most serious problems of the children of unstructured families is that they can fall more easily into addictions such as alcohol or drugs. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest dangers of these situations for society as a whole..
Children of broken families tend to develop mental problems such as depression or anxiety at much higher rates than those who have grown up in stable families. In the most severe cases, this can even lead to self-harm and suicide..
Children learn to relate to others by observing their parents. In the event that the interaction between them is not the best, the children will grow up without knowing exactly how to behave with other people.
This seems especially true in the case of relationships with the opposite sex. Thus, young people from broken families often have problems finding a partner, or keeping a partner in the long term.
Finally, losing one of the parents often causes the family to go through more financial difficulties than normal. This has all kinds of negative consequences that are added to those of family disintegration..
The increase in cases of family disintegration, and the negative consequences that these situations have, have set off the alarms of experts of all kinds. Thus, psychologists, sociologists and social workers try to find a solution to this serious problem.
Although a definitive answer has not yet been found, there are some measures we can take to prevent the most negative effects of family disintegration.
Teaching people to understand what they are feeling, to understand others, and to work on these two points can have many benefits..
In the case of family breakdowns, it could serve both to prevent some of them and to avoid some of their more serious consequences.
Some experts propose including this topic as a compulsory subject of study in schools and institutes, to educate the following generations from the beginning. However, there is still much to do in this regard..
With today's high divorce rates, many experts agree that traditional dating relationships no longer work particularly well..
For this reason, it is necessary to find other models that allow us to raise our children without having to suffer when there is a divorce or a serious conflict..
In this sense, there are many proposals. For example, those who see infidelity as the main cause of divorce propose the establishment of open couples as a solution..
Others, who think that the problem is the rush to establish a relationship, believe that the key lies in working on awareness and creating stronger relational skills.
One of the reasons that are most cited as a cause of divorce is the appearance of financial problems in the couple. This, in a society in crisis and in which jobs are less and less stable, is becoming an especially common situation.
For this reason, some specialists recommend that couples not have children until they have a stable and secure economic situation..
Thus, many of the causes that lead to separations would simply not appear, and family disintegration could be prevented to some extent..
On some occasions, family disintegration and its consequences cannot be avoided simply with the effort of the couple. In these cases, having the help of a professional specialized in these matters can be very useful..
Thus, the help of a couples psychologist can help avoid separation or divorce if the problems are not especially serious. In the event that it does eventually occur, a therapist can help children deal with the most negative consequences of these types of situations..
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