As we celebrate families this weekend, it’s important to remember the importance of a healthy environment in the family and its possible implications. Not just your mental health, a family’s environment can affect your child’s education, future and mental health of your future generations.
Indian families are changing for better or worse. These changes are currently in transitional stage, which is a challenging time for raising kids.
There are several factors resulting in modernisation and the social changes that are taking place in the country. As a researcher Sinha (1972) noted in a study, “The structure and role of the family have altered, and interrelationships within it have been radically transformed.”
While these changes come with freedom and liberty, in the current phase, they also come with several challenges. These challenges also often result in mental health issues among children and teenagers.
On this International Day of Families that will be celebrated on Sunday, May 15, 2022, we bring you a bird’s eye view of the current structure and how to create a healthy family living environment for your child.
Current family structure in India & Challenges
Thus the Indian family in this transitional stage is neither presenting stable values to the growing child nor clear-cut norms, practices and experiences of the nuclear families of the West. As observed by Khatri (1962, 1970), the transition and change have increased the vulnerability to mental health disturbance, and can be considered (Sinha, 1979) to underlie the tensions among contemporary youth in India.
Broken families often cause psychiatric problems
A latest study conducted by Aniruddh Prakash Behere, Pravesh Basnet and Pamela Campbell showed that 89 percent of children facing a psychiatric problem come from a broken family structure. “Only 11% were residing with biologically intact families,” the study published on National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) stated.
In turn, children from biological families were less likely to be exposed to trauma. Further on, the study also concluded that children from single/divorced families were more likely to have an ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis but less likely to have been sexually abused.
The risk factors:
• Two-third of the children in the study population were exposed to trauma with physical abuse seen in 36% of cases.
• Dysfunctional family backgrounds and socioeconomic adversity have also been attributed to suicide in young people.
• Parents exposed to abuse in their childhood or domestic violence were also more prone to act aggressively toward their own children.
Family time is healing time, be conscious
The time with mom and dad even as an adult can be healing and research backs the importance of family time, quoting better mental health. “With the right kind of activities, spending time with family can positively impact physical well-being,” psychiatrist Dr Pawan Rathi said.
He added that for instance, families who eat home-cooked meals together tend to have a better diet than those who don't. “Participating in outdoor activities like sports games, hikes, or gardening together helps to improve fitness,” psychiatrist Dr Smita Agrawal said.
Some fun activities suggested by kids for the weekend
• Outdoor Activity: Shruti Upadhyay of Class 8 suggested travelling to a nearby place and spending time in outdoor activities. Her favourite family time memories are at a beach.
• Cook Together: Harsh Jain of Class 6 recalled his favourite food. Though he loves junk food, he suggested preparing an alternative, delicious meal with family this weekend.
• Create Something: Kaushik Kumar Hota of Class 12 suggested doing something productive like working on building a small house, writing poetry, challenging each other in a fun quiz, etc.
• Painting is Healing: Sargam Patidar of Class 4, who loves painting, wants to paint a picture and create a big painting with her parents.
• Animals & Nature: Dhriti Sahani of Class 8, who loves nature, feels it is a great idea to spend time with animals. She wants to spend time with her family at a natural place.
• Dance and Act: Heral Alwani of Class 4 wants to take this weekend out to play games and mostly dance with her mom. She is interested in theatre and finds it fun to act.
Indian families are changing for better or worse. These changes are currently in transitional stage, which is a challenging time for raising kids.
There are several factors resulting in modernisation and the social changes that are taking place in the country. As a researcher Sinha (1972) noted in a study, “The structure and role of the family have altered, and interrelationships within it have been radically transformed.”
While these changes come with freedom and liberty, in the current phase, they also come with several challenges. These challenges also often result in mental health issues among children and teenagers.
On this International Day of Families that will be celebrated on Sunday, May 15, 2022, we bring you a bird’s eye view of the current structure and how to create a healthy family living environment for your child.
Current family structure in India & Challenges
Thus the Indian family in this transitional stage is neither presenting stable values to the growing child nor clear-cut norms, practices and experiences of the nuclear families of the West. As observed by Khatri (1962, 1970), the transition and change have increased the vulnerability to mental health disturbance, and can be considered (Sinha, 1979) to underlie the tensions among contemporary youth in India.
Broken families often cause psychiatric problems
A latest study conducted by Aniruddh Prakash Behere, Pravesh Basnet and Pamela Campbell showed that 89 percent of children facing a psychiatric problem come from a broken family structure. “Only 11% were residing with biologically intact families,” the study published on National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) stated.
In turn, children from biological families were less likely to be exposed to trauma. Further on, the study also concluded that children from single/divorced families were more likely to have an ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis but less likely to have been sexually abused.
The risk factors:
• Two-third of the children in the study population were exposed to trauma with physical abuse seen in 36% of cases.
• Dysfunctional family backgrounds and socioeconomic adversity have also been attributed to suicide in young people.
• Parents exposed to abuse in their childhood or domestic violence were also more prone to act aggressively toward their own children.
Family time is healing time, be conscious
The time with mom and dad even as an adult can be healing and research backs the importance of family time, quoting better mental health. “With the right kind of activities, spending time with family can positively impact physical well-being,” psychiatrist Dr Pawan Rathi said.
He added that for instance, families who eat home-cooked meals together tend to have a better diet than those who don't. “Participating in outdoor activities like sports games, hikes, or gardening together helps to improve fitness,” psychiatrist Dr Smita Agrawal said.
Some fun activities suggested by kids for the weekend
• Outdoor Activity: Shruti Upadhyay of Class 8 suggested travelling to a nearby place and spending time in outdoor activities. Her favourite family time memories are at a beach.
• Cook Together: Harsh Jain of Class 6 recalled his favourite food. Though he loves junk food, he suggested preparing an alternative, delicious meal with family this weekend.
• Create Something: Kaushik Kumar Hota of Class 12 suggested doing something productive like working on building a small house, writing poetry, challenging each other in a fun quiz, etc.
• Painting is Healing: Sargam Patidar of Class 4, who loves painting, wants to paint a picture and create a big painting with her parents.
• Animals & Nature: Dhriti Sahani of Class 8, who loves nature, feels it is a great idea to spend time with animals. She wants to spend time with her family at a natural place.
• Dance and Act: Heral Alwani of Class 4 wants to take this weekend out to play games and mostly dance with her mom. She is interested in theatre and finds it fun to act.
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