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The Stages of the Family Life Cycle

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Family Life- Cycle Stage

Emotional Process of Transition: Key Principles

Second-Order Changes in Family Status Required to Proceed Developmentally

Leaving home: single young adults

Accepting emotional and financial responsibility for self

a. Differentiation of self in relation to family of origin

b. Development of intimate peer relationships

c. Establishment of self in respect to work and financial independence

The joining of families through marriage: the new couple

Commitment to new system

a. Formation of marital system b. Realignment of relationships

with extended families and friends to include spouse

Families with young children

Accepting new members into the system

a. Adjusting marital system to make space for children

b. Joining in childrearing, financial and household tasks

c. Realignment of relationships with extended family to include parenting and grandparenting roles

Families with

Increasing flexibility of family boundaries to

a. Shifting of parent–child relationships to permit

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adolescents permit children’s independence and grandparents’ frailties

adolescent to move into and out of system

b. Refocus on midlife marital and career issues

c. Beginning shift toward caring for older generation

Launching children and moving on

Accepting a multitude of exits from and entries into the family system

a. Renegotiation of marital system as a dyad

b. Development of adult-to- adult relationships

c. Realignment of relationships to include in-laws and grandchildren

d. Dealing with disabilities and death of parents (grandparents)

Families in later life

Accepting the shifting generational roles

a. Maintaining own and/or couple functioning and interests in face of physiological decline: exploration of new familial and social role options

b. Support for more central role of middle generation

c. Making room in the system for the wisdom and experience of the elderly, supporting the older

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generation without overfunctioning for them

d. Dealing with loss of spouse, siblings, and other peers and preparation for death