Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Spring 5-1-2024
Faculty Advisor(s)
Dr. Desiree Crevecoeur-MacPhail
Abstract
The environment in which children are raised greatly influences the person they will grow up to be. Children who experience dysfunctional family relationships, such as constant changes and disruptions to the family structure, are likely to experience long term effects. The purpose of this study is to understand the link between family instability within relationships and the long-term psychological effects in early adulthood. Through the use of family systems theory, the research examines the family as a whole in which interactions within the family affect each member. This study investigated childhood experiences of unstable family relationships, and their likelihood to experience long-term effects such as depressive symptoms, poor emotional regulation, and relational issues. It is hypothesized that experiences of family instability during childhood correlate with symptoms of depression in adulthood. The second hypothesis suggests that experiences of family instability before the age of 5 have an increased risk of symptoms of depression during adulthood. Additionally, the third hypothesis proposes the experience of family instability during childhood to correlate with lower scores on emotional regulation in adulthood. Lastly, it is hypothesized that experiences of family instability during childhood to be associated with relational issues that continue in adulthood. The results of the study found statistical significance between family instability and depression, poor emotional regulation, and relational issues in adulthood. The implications for the findings highlight the importance of early intervention strategies to support individuals in unstable family environments in order to prevent the long-term psychological effects seen in adulthood.
Recommended Citation
Guillen, Emily, "The Long-term Effects of Family Instability During Childhood" (2024). Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters. 670.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts/670
Comments
Presented at the Spring 2024 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.