Family Conflict:  When different values, beliefs, or goals clash, misunderstanding occur, and relationships are damaged due to excessive arguing and difficulty understanding each other’s perspective or feelings.

Causes:

  • Personality Conflicts
  • Change in circumstances, new baby, divorce/separation, blending of families
  • Financial problems
  • Addiction issues
  • Mental health issues
  • Lack of trust/ respect
  • Natural disasters
  • Communication style
  • Parental Alienation**

Consequences for Children:

  • Internalized Chronic Stress *
  • Low self-esteem
  • Low self sufficiency
  • Depression, higher rates of major depressive disorder in adulthood
  • Alcohol/drug use
  • Lack of trust for self and others
  • Alienation of own children in adulthood
  • Divorce / insecure relationship attachments

 

*Internalized chronic stress may lead to anxiety or depressive disorders. Children may show difficulty in sleeping, experience frequent headaches, stomach aches, tension and sadness.

**Parental alienation, when a child aligns with parent A against parent B, after previously having a good and healthy relationship with parent B.

1) Does not necessarily reflect better parent

2) May indicate a personality disorder of alienating parent (Parent A)

3) Is a form of emotional abuse

4) Can be perpetrated by either parent, custodial guardian or not.

5) Disrupts attachment between parent and child, despite research that shows the importance of both parents in healthy emotional development.