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Introduction to Family and Relationship Issues

Family & 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?

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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

  • AHA News: Pandemic Pods Offer Social Relief, But There Are Risks

    "There's maybe a false sense of security with these pod arrangements," said Melissa Hawkins, director of the Public Health Scholars Program at American University in Washington, D.C. That's a serious issue as people grow eager for more contact, but vaccinations are months away for most. More...

  • Saying 'I Understand' Makes a Real Difference, Study Shows

    Showing support for a person's upset over something they've experienced can actually help boost their positive feelings, new research shows. More...

  • Caring for Elderly Loved Ones During a Holiday Lockdown

    While everyone is dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults may feel the loss of holiday traditions the most. More...

  • Give Your Family the Gift of Regular Exercise

    Physical activity could be the best gift to give your family this holiday season. And the American Heart Association (AHA) has some suggestions on how to do that. More...

  • Poll: 1 in 3 Parents Pick Holiday Gathering Over COVID Safety

    In a new nationwide poll of 1,443 parents, about one in three said the benefits of gathering with families for the holidays outweighed the risk of spreading the virus. More...

    • 20 More

    • College Kid Coming Home for Thanksgiving? Here's How to Keep Your Family Safe

      As college students prepare to leave their campuses for Thanksgiving or study remotely for the rest of the semester, families should consider their risks and work to reduce them, according to an infectious disease expert. More...

    • AHA News: Despite the Pandemic, Keep Social Connections Strong This Holiday Season

      As the pandemic crashes into the holidays, fewer of us may be getting together with family and friends to celebrate the season. But the bonds of friendship remain key to emotional and physical health. More...

    • Think 'Virtual' for Family Gatherings During the Holidays

      Virtual gatherings are the best choice for family get-togethers this holiday season, an expert says. More...

    • When Your Spouse Gripes About Aging, It Might Harm Your Health

      In older couples, one spouse's negative thoughts about aging can affect the other spouse's health, a new study indicates. More...

    • Spouses Share a Lot – Including Heart Health, Study Shows

      Many married couples or domestic partners share a lot: the same house, bills, pets and maybe children. A new study found they often also share the same behaviors and risk factors that can lead to heart disease. More...

    • Kids' Hospitalizations Accompany Rising Unemployment Rates: Study

      COVID-19 has led to widespread job loss in the United States. And now a new study reports that when unemployment rates rise, so do hospitalizations of children. More...

    • Most American Families Facing Financial Danger During Pandemic: Poll

      More than 60% of households with children in the United States have struggled with serious financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll shows. More...

    • COVID Conflicts Are Putting Big Strains on Relationships

      Both sides think they're right. And that's led to friction and frustration among friends and families. More...

    • Why Some Gifts Are Better-Received Than Others

      Those who received a gift that was intended to save them money were more likely to say it made them feel embarrassed, ashamed and bad, compared to those who received a time-saving gift. More...

    • When Parents, Grandparents Don't Agree on Childrearing Choices

      Disagreements between parents and grandparents over parenting choices like discipline, meals and TV time can strain family relationships, a new poll finds. More...

    • U.S. Grandparents Are Raising Millions of Kids, and It's Tough

      Nearly 3 million children in the United States are being raised by grandparents, and life has placed these kids on a rocky road toward adulthood, a new study reports. More...

    • Child Care Stresses, Hunger Are Harming U.S. Families During Pandemic

      With everyday life turned upside down, efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are taking a toll on the well-being and health of American families, a new poll reveals. More...

    • Many U.S. Homes Too Cramped to Stop COVID-19's Spread

      People with COVID-19 are told to keep their distance from family members to protect them from infection. But a new study finds that one-fifth of U.S. homes are too small for that to happen. More...

    • With Pandemic-Related Stress, Abuse Against Kids Can Surge

      Stress from social distancing and isolation to stop the spread of COVID-19 can lead to increased family violence at home, Tulane University experts say. More...

    • Love During Lockdown: Survey Shows How Couples Have Coped

      As U.S. states issued stay-at-home orders in March and April, one of many questions was how couples would fare under lockdown together. Now a new survey offers an initial snapshot: some more arguments, regular declarations of love, and a good dose of same-old, same-old. More...

    • With Nursing Homes on Lockdown, Stay Connected With Loved Ones

      Social restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic can be especially hard for people who can't visit loved ones with Alzheimer's disease who are in nursing homes. More...

    • AHA News: Instead of a Tie, Think About Healthy Gifts and Gratitude for Father's Day

      In this year of social distancing and economic uncertainty, dad probably doesn't need a new tie for Father's Day. Instead, it might be time to mark the occasion with creativity – and a little push in a healthy direction. More...

    • Pandemic Lockdown Increases Child Abuse Risk

      Hunkering down during the coronavirus pandemic has stressed families and raised the risk for child abuse, Penn State researchers report. More...

    • Keeping Harmony in the Family During Coronavirus Pandemic

      The coronavirus pandemic has families spending plenty of "quality time" together, but living under the same roof 24 hours a day can tax relationships, an expert in child development says. More...

    • Frozen Donor Eggs May Lead to Fewer Births Than Fresh Ones

      But statistics might not tell full story, experts say. More...

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