Not to be conflated with the family structure/unit, the environment is the conditions, circumstances, norms, and resources surrounding a family. The interaction between family and environment is bidirectional, and individual family members may perceive the same environmental stimuli differently. 


Grand Valley State University

Introduced by Murray Bowen in the 1950s, family systems theory views households as emotional units with family members having interconnected lives and behavioral processes. Family environments, structures, routines, and relationships influence the development of each individual.

Family Systems Theory

Yan, Y., Zhang, J., & Dong, S. (2021). Influence of childhood family routines on adult depression: A cross sectional study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.654433

 Influence of childhood family routines on adult depression: A cross sectional study

Smith, S. L., DeGrace, B., Ciro, C., Bax, A., Hambrick, A., James, J., & Evans, A. (2017). Exploring families’ experiences of health: Contributions to a model of family health. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 22(10), 1239–1247. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2017.1319069

Exploring families’ experiences of health: Contributions to a model of family health

Family Environment

Consisting of conversational and conformity dimensions, family communication patterns theory conceptualizes the way family heirarchies make decisions, transmit attitudes and beliefs, relate to one another, and elicit support. 

Family Communication Patterns Theory

In the discipline of psychology, routines are defined as organized, predictable, and intentional sets of behaviors repeated frequently in day to day life. Routines can include physical and mental components and can involve some or all family members. 
Routines can provide environmental and emotional stability within households.

Family Routines

Family dynamics encompass the ways in which individual members interact with each other based on their hierarchies, roles, and identities, and how familial relationships are perceived. Elements of family dynamics include:

• Structure

• Cohesion 

• Conflict style 

• Parenting style 

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