Question

Journal Entry: The Griffin family is made up of a mother, father, 3 male children: ages 7 months, 4 years old, and 1.5 years old, and the maternal grandmother. Both parents are educated, employed, and work outside of the home. The grandmother speaks only Russian and helps to care for the children. Lately, the 1.5 year old has been acting out violently against all family members. The parents’ guilt for being away from home causes them to ignore the inappropriate behaviors. The grandmother has been feeling overwhelmed by the children but says nothing out of fear that she might lose her standing in the family.

1. What are the pathological characteristics of this family?

As the population health nurse caring for this family you understand the need to also determine the family’s strengths before proceeding with intervention.

2. What strengths do you assess in this family?

When a family is in crisis, they often use defense mechanisms to cope with stress.

3. Identify and explain the coping mechanisms used by this family.

Answer 1

1.The pathological characteristic of this family are

• The size or the number of the family (a quite big family where all children who are in their infancy and toddler age has to be cared with utmost precautions )
• The lack of parents love and affection towards the children
• The age difference is too minimal between the second child and third child ,who needs entirely different types of care
• Three different age groups like children ,adults and elderly population whose needs are different
• The fear of an elderly person of being quitted from the family if does not care for the grandchildren

2.The main strength of the family are

• A family caretaker of the children by the grandmother is a support in the family to hold it
• The financial steadiness as both parents are working

3.The coping mechanism used by trying family are

• The parents taking responsibility for their childs violent behavior ,as they didn't provide their affection on them due to lack of time
• The family 's ability to accept the psychological status or the emotions to one another
• Acceptance of their problem is a good coping mechanism to come out of any problems