The Effects of Different Family Dynamics on Children's Behaviors

The way a family functions together will directly effect the behavior of the children in the family. There are large families, small families, divorced families, blended families, functional and dysfunctional families. The concept of the nuclear family or normal family has faded considerably over the years. Family dynamics are complex and different in ways that weren̵7;t experienced 50 years ago, and so are the behavioral outcomes.

  1. Birth Order Effects on Children̵7;s Behaviors

    • How many children there are in a family will effect each child̵7;s behavior. Each child brought into the family will have a profound effect on the other children. An only child may require more alone time than children with siblings. A first-born child in a family may resemble an only child because she was the only child before other children came along. A first-born child may be serious and mature because there were not children around in the beginning of her life. The second-born child tends to have opposite characteristics of the first-born. Second-born children may feel left out and seek relationships outside of the home. The third-born child may be the last, and therefore the baby in the family. He may feel inadequate and act charming, manipulative and temperamental. The fourth-born child, by default, usually works well with other people and is a good thinker.

    Healthy Marriage Effects on Children̵7;s Behaviors

    • Children are directly effected by the marriage of their parents. The health of a marriage will correlate with the health of a child physically and emotionally. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services̵7; Healthy Marriage Initiative has reported that children whose parents have a healthy marriage are more likely to succeed, attend college and have a healthy relationship with their parents, whereas they are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol or participate in other delinquent behaviors. A healthy marriage is a barometer for children̵7;s behaviors.

    Autism and Children̵7;s Behaviors

    • When a child in a family is diagnosed with autism, ripples of change run through the family dynamics. Research reported by WebMD states that children who have a sibling with autism are better adjusted emotionally and psychosocially than children who do not have a sibling with autism.

    Violence and Children̵7;s Behaviors

    • Abuse in the home is rarely directed at only one person. If a spouse is being abused, the children are most likely being abused as well. The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that when a child is exposed to violence in the home, the abuse changes the family dynamics and the child is predisposed to aggression, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and behavior problems. He experiences fearfulness and sleeplessness. A child exposed to violence may also test lower in verbal, motor and cognitive skills assessments.

    Step-families

    • Blended families pose complex challenges for children. If the blended family is the result of divorce or death, the child mourns the loss of her original family. Accepting a stepparent can also be an unsettling experience for a child; sometimes the child may become critical and discontented with her new parent. During the blending of new families, a child may experience a sense of loss of her family history and family relationships and may not readily accept the new relationships being formed. It may take two years for step-families to find stability, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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