Relationship pressures on Australian families: some implications for psychologists

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HTMLRelationship pressures on Australian families: some implications for psychologists
Image: Keo 101 / flickr

11 March 2011Mental health problems represent an increasing contribution to the global burden of disease (World Health Organization, 2009, 2010). Relationships and family factors may underpin and/or exacerbate these. In turn, mental health challenges have profound impacts on couple and family relationships. Intimate couple relationships are prime sources both of protection and risk. The pressures on couple and family relationships reflect forces from within and beyond the family unit. Distal and proximal factors lead to life events that bring into stark relief human vulnerability and resilience. For example, many of the pressures increasingly flow from the rapid pace of social change - along with unpredictable events such as disasters and economic downturns - on a national scale, and conflicts, accidents, illnesses and loss on the personal side. This article seeks to explore some of the pressures on couples and families and sketches the implications for psychologists faced with addressing the growing prevalence of mental health problems and behavioural disorders.

Image: Keo 101 / flickr

Publication typeReport
Publisher TypeAcademic research centre, APO Member
CoverageAustralia
Permanent URLhttp://apo.org.au/node/24181
Views1791

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