Wendel Abel
THE FAMILY is the basic institution in society. The Jamaican family has emerged out of the historical experience of slavery and colonialism. This article intends to provide an understanding of some of the psychological and social issues affecting our families in Jamaica.
FAMILY STRUCTURE
Research has shown that 60 per cent of families are headed by a single female. With the visiting relationship in which a male visits several household is a common form.
Many households are lacking a constant father figure. There is a high rate of teenage pregnancy and poor parental monitoring.
Migration and urbanisation are resulting in the disruption in the extended family system; increasingly more persons are living alone and in isolation.
THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION
This country has experienced many waves of migration. Migration might have brought about increased prosperity for our people, but it has also brought about disruption in our family structures as mothers migrate, leaving their families behind, parents separate and remarry in order to legitimise their status in various countries.
EFFECT OF POVERTY
There are far too many families living below the poverty line in this country and in disorganised communities that are overcome by a criminal subculture. As a result, there are too many of our children who are being brought up with poor social skills, diminished family life and exposed to poor parental monitoring. Poverty, unemployment and poor education are resulting in a high level of alienation, hopelessness and helplessness leading to high levels of frustration and high levels of aggression and violence in many families and communities.
IMPACT OF THE CRISIS
The family is affected at all levels of the life cycle from the womb to the tomb. Children are faced with mental health and school-related problems. Adolescents are faced with drug abuse and parent/child conflict. Adults in the society are grappling with infidelity, marital conflict, separation and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Some of the issues facing the elderly are isolation and the impact of retirement. The effect of crises on the family include dislocation, separation and poor quality of life.
THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY
A number of dysfunctional patterns are described among families. These include the enmeshed family which is characterised by over-involved family members or the disengaged family in which families are not totally cohesive and where there is poor communication pattern among family members.
Many of our single-parent households are characterised by an over-centralised mother figure and dysfunctional parenting styles which includes the excessive use of corporal punishment.
THE THREE-GENERATIONAL FAMILY
This is a common pattern seen in Jamaica where children live in the same households as their parents and grandparents. This pattern of extended family system has many positives such as providing additional social and economic support to the family, but there is also the down side, as it results in the non-evolved grandmother and weakened parental systems.
THE NON-EVOLVED GRANDMOTHER
This is the grandmother or great-grandmother who plays the central role in
the family and is the major caregiver. As a result the mother or father in the family does not assume the major caregiving and decision-making roles. The non-evolved grandmother continues to undertake "mothering role" even in her advanced years and she is at great risk for overload and burnout.
THE PARENTAL CHILD
This refers to children who assume major parental role because their parents have migrated, as a result of death, parental separation or poverty. This is a common pattern and, invariably, it is the oldest or most able child who assumes the parental responsibilities in such situations. This child who has to undertake parental responsibilities will have his own development stifled and in many instances may have to abort his school career to attend to the other members of the family.
MULTIPLE SHIFTING
This is the pattern seen in many families where children are shifted from one caregiver to another various reasons. This practice has been pervasive from the days of slavery to the present and, although it may have proven beneficial in some situations, it may affect the development of children, destroy their trust in adults and put them at risk for various forms of abuse.
CO-DEPENDENCY
This is a pattern of behaviour seen in many families in crisis for example, where a family member uses drugs or alcohol. The co-dependant becomes wrapped up in the dependent person's problems and may even facilitate the problem for example, by helping the alcoholic cover up. In many families the co-dependent is the mother figure who tends to be over-controlling and may often neglect her own needs.
DEALING WITH OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS
The fastest growing segment of the population is the over 65 age group. Many families are now faced with taking care of older family members and dealing with ageing relatives who are sick and affected with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer, University of the West Indies; phone: 922-3216; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
