Family & Relationship Issues

Introduction to Family and Relationship Issues

Welcome to our Family and Relationship Issues topic center. Whoever we are, we are all very much shaped by those who raised us, our parents and/or caregivers. We are the product of human relationships, and most of us spend our days within the context of relationships with other people. We need other people to be close to us in our lives, or we tend to get sick. Who we are is very much a function of where we have come from, and who we surround ourselves with.

Despite their vital importance in our lives, relationships can be very difficult to manage. We expect our intimate partners to provide for many of our needs, but often find that differing expectations, frustration, and a need to be right create conditions for conflict and erosion of intimacy. Angels though they may be, our children test us for weaknesses and we don't always pass. Our adult parents grow older and require care, placing a burden on our other responsibilities. A diverse set of communicati...More

Fast Facts: Learn! Fast!

What are healthy communication skills that should be used in relationships with others?

Assertive communication is respectful, direct, honest, open, non-threatening and non-defensive. It is not demanding, aggressive, or manipulative.
Understanding the emotional side of conversations can cause behavior to shift.
Trust and affection are the glue that hold couples together. Healthy partners communicate these positive feelings towards each other via words and gestures in a cyclical manner that breeds more positive communication.
Knowing more about how to communicate clearly and with sensitivity can help you to avoid problems before they start.

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What are effective conflict resolution skills that should be used in relationships with others?

It’s normal to have conflict in relationships, but resolving disagreements in a healthy way creates understanding and brings couples closer together.
Learn the 3 most common and ineffective ways conflict is handled in intimate relationships and how to better handle it.
Discover 4 strategies will help couples and families balance the needs of others with their own, and make the holiday season more enjoyable for all.
In your quest as a parent to help your child understand the difference between good and bad, right and wrong and what it means to be respectful to others, there will inevitably be times when your child resists or you miscommunicate.
Repairing damage while disagreeing with your partner can require learning new habits and skills.
Whether in a marriage, between parents and children, or among friends, conflict is an inevitable part of any ongoing relationship and the question isn't if there will be conflict but how you will navigate the conflict when it occurs. Here are three skills you can practice to enhance your conflict-resolution and two to avoid.
People who remarry find themselves blending two sets of families from former marriages and it's common to find a wife or husband complaining that their new spouse seems to love their biological children more than their new spouse.

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News Articles

Health Tip: Manage Family Arguments
Arguments are a natural part of family life, but constant and recurring battles can be exhausting. More...
Health Tip: Dealing With Sibling Rivalry
Adjusting from being an only child to being a big brother or big sister may be a difficult transition. More...
Close Siblings Can Ease the Pain of Family Conflict
Good relationships between siblings can help them cope with conflicts between their parents, a new study finds. More...
Make Losing Weight a Family Affair
Is your family struggling with overweight or obesity? More...
Is Obesity 'Contagious'?
Living in a neighborhood with a high rate of obesity might raise the odds that you and your children will become plus-sized, too. More...

9 More

The Opioid Crisis' Hidden Victims: Children in Foster Care
As the opioid epidemic continues to grip the United States, the toll on the littlest victims -- the children of addicts -- is mounting, new research shows. More...
For a Healthier New Year, Try Making It a Family Affair
Did you resolve to eat better in 2018? Exercise more? Lose weight? If so, here's how to turn those resolutions into successes. More...
Getting to the Root of Sibling Rivalry
Fights among your children can start for a variety of reasons, and sibling rivalry can take root even before your second child is born More...
The Most Dreaded Topic at Family Gatherings
Family harmony and talk of politics can be combustible holiday companions, a therapist contends. More...
Too Much Family Time This Holiday? Here's How to Cope
Too much time with relatives during the holidays can lead to what one psychotherapist calls "family burnout." More...
Family Meals Serve Up Better Behaved Kids
Children whose families regularly eat meals together tend to have better social skills and fitness levels, researchers report. More...
Nature Walks Nurture Family Bonds
Taking short walks together in nature can strengthen family ties More...
Prep, Patience Help Keep the Family Peace at Thanksgiving
Want to keep things peaceful when your family gathers for Thanksgiving? It's possible. More...
Frozen Donor Eggs May Lead to Fewer Births Than Fresh Ones
But statistics might not tell full story, experts say. More...