Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-k7rjm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-07-31T17:57:46.593Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 27 - Family Problems

from Part IV - Problems of Institutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2018

By
Donna Holland
Edited by
A. Javier Treviño
A. Javier Treviño
Affiliation:
Wheaton College, Massachusetts
Get access

Summary

The institution of family is the site of a number of social problems. These include intimate partner violence (IPV), child abuse, and elderly abuse. The effects of violence on family members produce immediate negative outcomes and negative outcomes that span over the life course and that reach into the second generation. Other family problems may coexist with family violence. Divorce causes emotional upset. There is a relationship between divorce and poverty for women and children and more negative outcomes for children of divorced parents. Drug abuse and abandonment in families harm adults and children. Society takes steps to lower the incidence and prevalence of each problem, except for divorce. Divorce is common and is generally considered socially acceptable, even though negative outcomes for adults and children are associated with divorce. These family problems are likely to extend into the future.

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems , pp. 497 - 512
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Anderson, J. F., and Kras, K.. 2005. Revisiting Albert Bandura's social learning theory to better understand and assist victims of intimate personal violence. Women & Criminal Justice 17:99–124.Google Scholar
Archer, J. 2000. Sex differences in aggression between heterosexual partners: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin 126:651–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Band-Winterstein, Tova. 2014. The impact of lifelong exposure to IPV on adult children and their aging parents. Journal of Family Issues 35(4):439–61.Google Scholar
Band-Winterstein, Tova. 2015. Whose suffering is this? Narratives of adult children and parents in long-term abusive relationships. Journal of Family Violence 30(2):123–33.Google Scholar
Barnett, T. O., and Fagan, F.. 1993. Alcohol use in male spouse abusers and their female partners. Journal of Family Violence 8(1):1–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Black, M. C., Basile, K. C., Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Walters, M. L., Merrick, M. L., Chen, J., and Stevens, M. R.. 2011. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/summary_reports.html.Google Scholar
Brandl, B., and Raymond, J. A.. 2012. Policy implications of recognizing that caregiver stress is not the primary cause of elder abuse. Generations 36(3):32–39.Google Scholar
Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Basile, K. C., Walters, M. L., Chen, J., and Merrick, M. T.. 2011. Prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization – National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. MMWR 63(SS-8):1–18.Google Scholar
Brook, J. S., Balka, E. B., Zhang, C., and Brook, D. W.. 2015. Intergenerational transmission of externalizing behavior. Journal of Child and Family Studies 24(10):2957–65.Google Scholar
Burnes, D. P. R. 2014. Risk factors for elder abuse incidence and severity among cognitively intact older adults. PhD diss., Columbia University.Google Scholar
Chassin, L., Pitts, S. C., DeLucia, C., and Todd, M.. 1999. A longitudinal study of children of alcoholics: Predicting young adult substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 108(1):106–19.Google Scholar
Chassin, L., Pitts, S. C., and Prost, J.. 2002. Binge drinking trajectories from adolescence to emerging adulthood in a high-risk sample: Predictors and substance abuse outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 70:67–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherlin, A. 1996. Public and Private Families. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Christoffersen, M. N., and Soothill, K.. 2003. The long-term consequences of parental alcohol abuse: A cohort study of children in Denmark. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 25(2):107–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coyne, A. C., Reichman, W. E., and Berbig, L. J.. 1993. The relationship between dementia and elder abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry 150(4):643–46.Google ScholarPubMed
Desmarais, S. L., Reeves, K. A., Nicholls, T. L., Telford, R. P., and Fiebert, M. S.. 2012. Prevalence of physical violence in intimate relationships, Part 2: Rates of male and female perpetration. Partner Abuse 3(2):170.Google Scholar
Dobash, R., and Dobash, Russell. 1979. Violence against Wives: A Case against the Patriarchy. New York: The Free Press.Google Scholar
Dyer, Carmel Bitondo, Toronjo, Christine, Cunningham, Michelle, Festa, Nicolo A., Pavlik, Valory N., Hyman, David J., Poythress, E. Lee, and Searle, Nancy S.. 2006. The key elements of elder neglect: A survey of adult protective service workers. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect 17:1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ehrensaft, M. K., Cohen, P., Brown, J., Smailes, E., Chen, H., and Johnson, J. G.. 2003. Intergenerational transmission of partner violence: A 20-year prospective study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 79(4):741–53.Google Scholar
Ellonen, N., Piispa, M., Peltonen, K., and Oranen, M.. 2013. Exposure to parental violence and outcomes of child psychosocial adjustment. Violence and Victims 28(1):3–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fergusson, D. M., and Lynskey, M. T.. 1997. Physical punishment/maltreatment during childhood and adjustment in young adulthood. Child Abuse & Neglect 21(7):617–30.Google Scholar
Fisher, B. S., Zink, T., and Regan, S.. 2011. Abuses against older women: Prevalence and health effects. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 26:254–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Furstenberg, F. F., and Spanier, G. B.. 1984. The risk of dissolution in remarriage: An examination of Cherlin's hypothesis of incomplete institutionalization. Family Relations 33(3):433–41.Google Scholar
Gelles, S., and Steinmetz, R. J.. 1980. Behind Closed Doors. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Gibson, S. C., and Qualls, S.. 2012. A family systems perspective of elder financial abuse. Generations 36(3):26–29.Google Scholar
Glasser, M., Kolvin, I., Campbell, D., Glasser, A., Leitch, I., and Farrelly, S.. 2001. Cycle of child sexual abuse: Links between being a victim and becoming a perpetrator. The British Journal of Psychiatry 179(6):482–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haabrekke, Kristin J., Siqveland, Torill, Smith, Lars, Wentzel-Larsen, Tore, Walhovd, Kristine B., and Moe, Vibeke. 2015. Mother–child interaction and early language skills in children born to mothers with substance abuse and psychiatric problems. Child Psychiatry and Human Development 46(5):702–14.Google Scholar
Hamby, S., Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., and Ormrod, R.. 2010. The overlap of witnessing partner violence with child maltreatment and other victimizations in a nationally representative survey of youth. Child Abuse and Neglect 34:734–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamby, S, Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., and Ormrod, R.. 2011. Children's Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Other Family Violence. Juvenile Justice Bulletin NCJ 232272. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/jvq/NatSCEVChildren's%20Exposure-family%20Violence%20final.pdf.Google Scholar
Hanson, R. K., and Slater, S.. 1988. Sexual victimization in the history of child sexual abusers: A review. Annals of Sex Research 1:485–99.Google Scholar
Holland, D. 2008. Family, dysfunctional. In Encyclopedia of Social Problems, edited by Parrillo, Vincent N., 356–57. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Holland, D. 2009. Families of origin, foster care experience, and the transition to adulthood. Juvenile and Family Court Journal 60(2):69–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hotaling, G. T., and Sugarman, D. B.. 1986. An analysis of risk markers in husband to wife violence: The current state of knowledge. Violence and Victims 1:101–24.Google Scholar
Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community. 2008. Intimate partner violence in the African American community. www.idvaac.org/.Google Scholar
Johnson, M. P. 1995. Patriarchal terrorism and common couple violence: Two forms of violence against women. Journal of Marriage and Family 57(2):283–94.Google Scholar
Johnson, M. P. 2008. A Typology of Domestic Violence: Intimate Terrorism, Violent Resistance, and Situational Couple Violence. Boston: Northeastern University Press.Google Scholar
Kalmijn, M. 2015. The cumulative effects of divorce and repartnering. Journal of Family Issues 36(6):737–59.Google Scholar
Kelley, M. L., Lawrence, H. R., Milletich, R. J., Hollis, B. F., and Henson, J. M.. 2015. Modeling risk for child abuse and harsh parenting in families with depressed and substance-abusing parents. Child Abuse and Neglect 43:42–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitzmann, K. M., Gaylord, N. K., Holt, A. R., and Kenny, E. D.. 2003. Child witnesses to domestic violence: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 71:339–52.Google Scholar
Knopp, F. H. 1984. Retraining Adult Sexual Offenders: Methods and Muddles. Syracuse, NY: Safer Society Press.Google Scholar
Kurdek, L. A., and Berg, B.. 1987. Children's beliefs about parental divorce scale: Psychometric characteristics and concurrent validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 55:712–18.Google Scholar
Lachs, M. S., Williams, C. S., O'Brien, S., Pillemer, K. A., and Charlson, M. E.. 1998. The mortality of elder mistreatment. Journal of American Medical Association 280:428–32.Google Scholar
Lanier, C., and Maume, M. O.. 2009. Intimate partner violence and social isolation across the rural/urban divide. Violence against Women 15:1311–30.Google Scholar
Lewis, A. J., Holmes, N., Watkins, B., and Mathers, D.. 2015. Children impacted by parental substance abuse: An evaluation of the Supporting Kids and Their Environment program. Journal of Child and Family Studies 24(8):2398–406.Google Scholar
Luo, Y., and Waite, L. J.. 2011. Mistreatment and psychological well-being among older adults: Exploring the role of psychosocial resources and deficits. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 66(2):217–29.Google Scholar
Macassa, G., Viitasara, E., Sundin, O., Barros, H., Francisco, T. Gonzales, Ioannidi-Kapolou, E., Melchiorre, M. G., Lindert, J., Stankunas, M., and Soares, J. J. F.. 2013. Psychological abuse among older persons in Europe: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research 5(1):16–34.Google Scholar
Maya, Philip A., Keaster, Carol, Bozeman, Rosemary, Goodover, Joelene, Blankenship, Jason, Kalberg, Wendy O., Buckley, David, Brooks, Marita, Hasken, Julie, Gossage, J. Phillip, Robinson, Luther K., Manning, Melanie, and Hoyme, H. Eugene. 2015. Prevalence and characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome and partial fetal alcohol syndrome in a Rocky Mountain region city. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 155:118–27.Google Scholar
McGee, S., and Levenstein, D.. 1997. Myths and Facts about Domestic Violence. Ann Arbor, MI: Domestic Violence Project.Google Scholar
Murrell, A. R., Christoff, K. A., and Henning, K. R.. 2007. Characteristics of domestic violence offenders: Associations with childhood exposure to violence. Journal of Family Violence 22:523–32.Google Scholar
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). 2015. Index: Types of abuse. www.ncea.aoa.gov/FAQ/Type_Abuse/index.aspx.Google Scholar
National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA). 2001. Financial abuse. http://preventelderabuse.org/elderabuse/fin_abuse.html.Google Scholar
Ortman, J. M., Velkoff, V. A., and Hogan, H.. 2014. An aging nation: The older population in the United States population estimates and projections. Current Population Reports. www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf.Google Scholar
Pape, H., Rossow, I., and Storvoll, E. E.. 2015. Is drinking with parents associated with high-risk drinking among adolescents? European Addiction Research 21(6):291–99.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pillemer, K., and Finkelhor, D.. 1988. The prevalence of elder abuse: A random sample survey. The Gerontologist 28(1):51–57.Google Scholar
Rennison, Callie Marie. 2003. Crime data brief: Intimate partner violence, 1993–2001. US Department of Justice, NCJ 197838, Bureau of Justice Statistics. www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipv01.pdf.Google Scholar
Roepke-Buehler, S. K., Simon, M., and Dong, X.. 2015. Association between depressive symptoms, multiple dimensions of depression, and elder abuse: A cross-sectional, population-based analysis of older adults in urban Chicago. Journal of Aging Health 27(6):1003–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, D., Springer, K., and Greenfield, E.. 2010. Witnessing domestic violence in childhood as an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Child Abuse and Neglect 34(6):448–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sillito, C. L. 2012. Physical health effects of intimate partner abuse. Journal of Family Issues 33(11):1520–39.Google Scholar
Simons, R. L., Lin, L. Kuei-Hsiu, Gordon, C., Conger, R. D., and Lorenz, F. O.. 1999. Explaining the higher incidence of adjustment problems among children of divorce compared with those in two-parent families. Journal of Marriage and the Family 61(4):1020.Google Scholar
Singh, V., Tolman, R., Walton, A., Chermack, A., and Cunningham, R.. 2014. Characteristics of men who perpetrate intimate partner violence. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 27(5):661–68.Google Scholar
Staton-Tindall, Michele, Sprang, Ginny, Clark, James, Walker, Robert, and Craig, Carlton D.. 2013. Caregiver substance use and child outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 13(1):6–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stiby, A., Hickman, M., Munafò, M. R., Heron, J., Yip, V. L., and Macleod, J.. 2015. Adolescent cannabis and tobacco use and educational outcomes at age 16: Birth cohort study. Addiction 110(4):658–68.Google Scholar
Straus, Murray A., Hamby, Sherry L., Boney-McCoy, Sue, Sugarman, David B.. 1996. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). Journal of Family Issues 17(3):283.Google Scholar
Tjaden, P., and Thoennes, N.. 2000. Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence against Women: Findings from the National Violence against Women Survey. Report NCJ 183781. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183781.pdf.Google Scholar
US Census Bureau. 2012. Births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.Google Scholar
US Department of Health and Human Services, Children Services. 2015. Child maltreatment 2015. www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/cm2015.pdf#page=10.Google Scholar
Williams, O. J., Oliver, W., and Pope, M.. 2008. Domestic violence in the African American community. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma 16:229–37.Google Scholar
Wolchik, S. A., Tein, A. Jenn-Yun, Sandler, I. N., and Doyle, K. W.. 2002. Fear of abandonment as a mediator of the relations between divorce stressors and mother–child relationship quality and children's adjustment problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 30(4):401–18.Google Scholar
Wolf, M. E., Holt, V. L., Kernic, M. A., and Rivara, F. P.. 2000. Who gets protection orders for intimate partner violence? American Journal of Preventive Medicine 9(4):286–91.Google Scholar
Wolfinger, N. H. 2005. Understanding the Divorce Cycle: The Children of Divorce in Their Own Marriages. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO). 2008. A Global Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect: Building Primary Health Care Capacity to Deal with the Problem Worldwide. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
Wu, Elwin, El-Bassel, Nabila, McVinney, L. Donald, Hess, Leona, Fopeano, Mark V., Hwang, Hyesung G., Charania, Mahnaz, and Mansergh, Gordon. 2015. The association between substance use and intimate partner violence within black male same-sex relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 30(5):762–81.Google Scholar
Wyatt, G. E., Axelrod, J., Chin, D., Carmona, J. V., and Loeb, T. B.. 2000. Examining patterns of vulnerability to domestic violence among African American women. Violence against Women 6(5):495–514.Google Scholar
Yllo, K., and Straus, M. A.. 1990. Patriarchy and violence against wives: The impact of structural and normative factors. In Physical Violence in American Families: Risk Factors for Adaptations to Violence in 8145 Families, edited by Straus, M. A. and Gelles, R. J., 383–99, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.Google Scholar

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×