The Effects of Blended Families during Middle Childhood - Research Paper Example

The Effects of Blended Families during Middle Childhood Family structures are very crucial to child development because children learn through what they observe in the immediate environment. Erickson psychosocial social theory posits that environment factor influences the behavior of a child and his or her adulthood (Mooney, et.al. 6). Psychologists have observed that many children who spend their childhood with both parents experience little or no social, academic, and behavioral problems over other family types (Kleinsorge & Covitz 2). Thus, the structure of a family would influence the behavior of the child during the childhood stages and later in adulthood stages. This paper will explore the influence of blended families to childhood development. Psychologists have observed that the length of time a child spend in a particular family structure influence behavioral outcome of the child (Kleinsorge & Covitz 3). Behavioral outcome such as distress are common when a child in an intact family separates from this family structure. Researchers have noted that divorced families tend to subject children to hostile situations, which eventually leads to psychological reaction (Magnuson & Berger 2). This reaction increases cortisol level in the brain thus influencing sleep problems, anxiety, irritability, and changes in weight. Although some theorists have observed that distress associated with separation with fade with time, psycho theorists have observed evidence of persistent behavior influence in adulthood (Mooney, et.al. 12). The problems experienced at adulthood due to childhood family separation may include mental health, alcohol use, relationship problems, and unattained educational goals. Piaget cognitive development theory argued that cognitive development depends upon the observable characteristics within a social set up (Magnuson & Berger 5). The confidence that children build during the middle childhood stage tend to influence their adolescent and adulthood stages. Transitional effects differ with age range and gender. Children in middle childhood are able to adjust more easily to their new family structures. However, the conditions expose these children to higher risks because of the confidence they tend to lack in their new families. Theorists have observed that children at middle childhood need security and tend to confide in their parents (Kleinsorge & Covitz 6). However, a change in family structure may influence their confidence ability, which later influences their behavior in adolescent. A common effect is the antisocial behavior that is common in boys than in girls. The research on gender in relation to transitional family influence indicated that boys tend to struggle to accept new outcomes as opposed to girls’ counterpart (Mooney, et.al. 8) Human beings have intrinsic attitudes, which influence socialization, however, the environmental influence tend to shape these intrinsic attitudes. A repeat in transition in a family structure creates make children lose confidence in the life that they are leading. The consequent of this condition would be evident through antisocial behavior, aggression, and delinquency among other effects. Children in blended family tend to struggle academically or pose poor performance. Studies have indicated that children at middle childhood stage would struggle to adjust to the new family structure as opposed to children in straight families. Other than the academic influence, they tend to demonstrate emotional outcomes, which influence their association with other children. Psycho theorists argue that emotional development depend on both intrinsic and environmental factors (Kleinsorge & Covitz 4). However, frequent exposure to aggressive reaction would increase the level of aggression among the children. Various studies have demonstrated that divorced families or blended families expose children to various social practices, including more than one father or mother. The instability in the new family structure influences the development of the child into building confident in the new environment (Mooney, et.al. 12). Children adapt to new circumstances in their life after some time. Effective transitional changes would depend on the confidence that a child would build in the environment. Financial constraints in a new family would pose serious adjustment challenges to children in blended families. Theorists have indicated that it might take one to three years for a middle age child to accept the new environment (Magnuson & Berger 6). However, the effect of the condition would reverberate at adolescent stage, showing adverse in boys as opposed to girls. The influence of separation in girls tends to delay, and would emerge at adulthood stage, especially when they experience conditions that create anxiety. Children who experienced family breakup or blending tend to demonstrate low self-esteem as opposed to children who belong to straight families (Kleinsorge, & Covitz 5). The situation might contribute to lower occupational status later in adulthood stage. Self-esteem is very crucial for child performance as well as behavioral development. Psychologists have associated dissolution of families at adulthood stage to early childhood experiences (Magnuson & Berger 5). The children who experienced lack of confidence in early childhood stages portray poor family relationship, which eventually leads to dissolution of families. Explanatory Mechanism The relationship built the parents in the blended family could be very influential to the lives of children in these families. Social theorists argue that a number of factors contribute to the well being of the child in a blended family or in a separated family (Kleinsorge & Covitz 4). A bended family may expose a child to a number risks as well as protective influences. The social condition that leads blending of a family may contribute to positive or negative impact on the life of the child. The approach taken by the parents to handle the family may restore confidence in the child or create more conflict in the family structure. Family functioning influences behavioral outcome of a child than the family structure. Critics believe that a peaceful coexistence in a blended family tend to create room for adjustment, restoring confidence in family role (Kleinsorge & Covitz 4). Children in blended families usually monitor the behavior of their stepfathers or mothers towards them. A negative reaction towards these children would create a negative influence. Studies have indicated that children who witnesses domestic violence get confused and would demonstrate resentment (Kleinsorge & Covitz 5). It is important for blended families to demonstrate peaceful coexistence. Since the environment where child lives influences his or her behavioral outcomes, it is important for the parents to demonstrate love to these children. Piaget cognitive theory argues that children tend to develop confidence through treatment they get in their environment (Magnuson & Berger 5). This means that parents in blended family could restore the confidence of the child through demonstrating support in what they children wish to learn or need. Disparity that parents demonstrate in blended families usually influences the behavior of a child in adolescent and later stages in life. It is arguable that blended families, which build good social structures with their children, would raise the confidence level of the child and reduce the anxiety or panic level. Academic performance of a child usually depends on self-esteem that a child builds from the family relationship. This means that the parents must avoid conflict or develop better ways of solving their problems. Social theorists have observed that conflicts in the family affect children in directly or impair parental relationship (Magnuson & Berger 5). This means that behavioral problems that children develop due to poor parental childhood relationship are avoidable. Child treatment in bended family is very crucial in influencing behavioral attitude of the child. It is advisable for parents in blended families to demonstrate equality in addressing the concern of their children. Social theorists have demonstrated that children tend to learn from what they see in their environment (Magnuson & Berger 5). Further, they would experiment the same when relating with other children. Thus, many children would confide in their guardians or parents. This means that the blended family must demonstrate attention to problems that children have without partiality. Studies have suggested that parents who manage and demonstrate parental role in the families boost the quality of relationship they have with the children (Mooney, et. al. 14). Relationship between the parent and the child is very critical when it comes emotional balancing and the future of the child. Theorists have demonstrated that children who demonstrate social attitude as well as good relationship in adulthood confided in their parents (Mooney, et.al. 14). This means that a similar practice in a blended family would not only boost father or mother to child relationship but would influence the reaction of the child in a social environment. In conclusion, family structure influences behavioral outcome of the child. Children tend to confide in their parents, however, blended families may break the confidence that children demonstrate to their parents because of the transition involved. The transition may create behavioral change depending on the treatment that the child gets from the family. Middle age child may take one to three years to effective fit in a blended family depending on parental treatment projected to the child. Building good relationship between the parent and the children in a blended family promote good relationships which is evident through effective adolescence and adulthood life. Work cited Kleinsorge, Christy & Covitz, M. Lynne. Impact of Divorce on Children: Developmental Considerations. Web 14 May 2012 http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/33/4/147.full Magnuson, Katherine & Berger, M. Lawrence. Family Structure States and Transitions: Associations with Children’s Wellbeing During Middle Childhood. Web 14 May 2012 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2836533/ Mooney, Ann et.al. Impact of Family Breakdown on Children’s Well-Being. Web 14 May 2012 https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DCSF-RR113.pdf Read More