increase in boomerang families - reasons and effects

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  • Created by: AlMaSin
  • Created on: 05-03-18 20:25

increase in boomerang families - reasons and effects

Causes

  • STABILISATION - functionalists argue that certain forms of the family can be deemed 'modified nuclear families' with the multiple adults providing financial and emotional support the the other members present
  • AGEING POPULATION - the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported that the population of 85+ year olds within the UK is estimated to treble within the next 30 years
  • INDIVIDUALISATION - Postmodernists argue that society has shifted to become more individualistic in which the individual is more concerned with their own needs and goals as opposed to the needs and wants of the collective, with this phenomena affecting women significantly more than men

Effects

  • EMOTIONAL STRAIN - Care UK reported that women are 4 times more likely to be the carers for their elderly relatives with a 1/3 of these 'carers' reporting health issues and a further 1/3 reporting their other relationships are suffering as a result of the continuous care they must provide for these relatives
  • RELATIONSHIP TIES - Its been argued that with the presence of elderly relatives, children are provided with a further source of socialisation and emotional support aswell as them acting as a source of childcare which will allow the parents to spend quality time together and tighten the ties within this relationship also
  • FINANCIAL STRAIN - the ONS reported that a 1/3 of the adults living in families such as the boomerang family are forced to remortgage their homes in order to support their elderly relatives and adult children

Overall summary

Boomerang families may have been created as a result of them seemingly providing more financial and emotional support, a need to care for elderly relatives and increased choice for family types within society however, observed damage to emotional and financial aspects of the family has been reported with them also being positive in the childcare and socialisation grandparents may provide 

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