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Family Systems Theory

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Families with Adolescents

Part of the book series: Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development ((ARAD))

Abstract

Family systems theory provides users with a holistic framework that centers attention on the interactive and bidirectional nature of relationships within families with adolescents. The family systems framework enjoys widespread use in the family intervention literature, as well as having been increasingly employed within the child and adolescent developmental literatures. In this chapter, attention is paid to a number of concepts that are related to the understanding of the family as a self-organizing unit. In particular, the systems concept of the steady state is used to discuss the balance of stability and change that must be struck in families with adolescents as members negotiate the demands of this developmental period. Additionally, the importance of newer statistical techniques such as structural equation modeling is reviewed with an eye toward expanding the explanatory function of family systems-oriented research. Critiques of the family systems approach also are covered, including especially empirical limitations associated with its generating descriptive rather than explanatory abilities. Questions about the generalizability of research findings to non-Western and non-White families with adolescents are also addressed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Stephen M. Gavazzi

  2. Department of Child and Family Studies, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea (Republic of)

    Ji-Young Lim

Authors
  1. Stephen M. Gavazzi
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  2. Ji-Young Lim
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Gavazzi, S.M., Lim, JY. (2023). Family Systems Theory. In: Families with Adolescents. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43407-5_4

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