Effects of family stress
The effects of stress on the family vary from person to person, depending on various factors like how the body reacts to stress and the individual’s history.
However, long term stress has been shown to cause many adverse health conditions, including cancer, headaches, depression and heart disease. It can also affect sleep patterns or lead to overeating.
The strain that family stress puts on family relationships leads couples to spend more time fighting and less time talking about their relationship problems instead of bringing them up when they arise to be dealt with before things escalate too far. Furthermore, tensions in the home often harm one’s physical well-being. People concerned are at a greater risk of fatigue as they feel tired more often because of another stress symptom like insomnia.
Physiological effects of family stress include tightness or tension in one’s chest, heart rate responses – either bigger or lower than usual – and a dry mouth. Other stress reactions may include feeling dizzy or lightheaded – feelings that might also be accompanied by nausea, headaches, insomnia and difficulty concentrating. Family stress is also linked to poorer health outcomes, such as high blood pressure, and diabetes. In addition, research has shown that family violence can lead to suppressed immune function, heart problems and even death in vulnerable members.
Also, chronic inflammation has been found in those who experience higher levels of emotional distress. They are more likely than others to have elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, indicating a risk for heart disease. High CRP levels indicate high levels of cortisol, one of the main hormones related to weight gain around the belly.
In addition, chronic shooting pains can indicate that the body is in a state of chronic stress, leading to other health problems.
Psychological responses to family stress can include guilt, anxiety and depression due to making mistakes as the head of the family.
Sociological responses may involve a lack of unit solidarity among members of the same family because each member has his or her own opinion on handling problems plaguing other members, which may affect levels of family cohesion.
Lastly, economic status is affected by disruptions in employment benefits for caregivers if they are made redundant, leading to deterioration in the mental health of those affected.
It is essential not to allow stress to build up over an extended period if possible. Otherwise, our body will eventually react negatively and make physical changes that are sometimes irreversible to compensate for it.
The following are statistics about family stress:
- According to recent research by Penn State and the University of Utah, family members who have been divorced or separated for at least two years’ experience a higher level of loneliness than those who remain in the home.
- According to a Canadian Institute for Health Research study, there was a significant association between family dysfunction and depression in adult children.
- Family stress has been linked to negative impacts on mental health, such as anxiety and depression.
- Children who grow up with parents who are constantly fighting or feel neglected may experience feelings of anger, guilt, shame, sadness, or hopelessness.
- Family stress can lead to alcoholism, drug abuse and violence in the home.
- Research has shown that schoolchildren exposed to family conflict at home often have academic problems once they reach adolescence. They also tend not to interact as much with their parents compared with other kids of similar age groups.
Family stress is detrimental to one’s health but not impossible to manage. It may take some time and effort, but there are ways that people can minimize their family stress by being aware of it and making changes accordingly.
