Applications of family systems theory to the study of adulthood

Psychologists who study children have emphasized family processes that influ-ence children’s psychological well-being and subsequent development, but gerontologists have rarely considered the impact of the family as system in adulthood. Drawing on family systems theories, we show how between- family, within-family, and within-individual differences emerge from family interactions in adulthood. Specifically, we consider how adult behavior might be understood in terms of norms sustained by the larger family system. We present three case studies of adult families to illustrate the ways in which their shared beliefs shape emotional experiences, behavior, and conceptions of self and family in adult-hood. The family, as a milieu, continues to exert influence over the day-to-day life of individual members after they are grown. The family milieu plays a central role in emotional and physical well-being across the lifespan. Research pertaining to family life has been conducted in two distinct arenas, one dealing with child development and one dealing with the needs of older adults. It is clear that during infancy and childhood families serve as a window to the larger culture (e.g., Bronfenbrenner, 1986; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1997). In old age, families provide emotional and instrumental support for relatives i