Posted: January 21st, 2025

Exploring Marital Relationships in Middle Adulthood

Overview
For this Performance Task Assessment, you will analyze a family case study in a multi-part 7- to 11-page paper where you will closely examine environmental and genetic influences on an infant in the family. This analysis will provide insights into how these factors interact and shape development during crucial early stages of life. You will also examine childrearing styles and their impact on attachment for a 3-year-old, noting the significance of nurturing environments in fostering healthy emotional connections. Understanding these dynamics is vital to appreciate how attachment styles can affect a child’s future relationships.

Furthermore, you will explore the association of an adolescent’s physical development with his peer relationships and academic motivation. This section will highlight the complex interplay between physical maturation and social experiences, illustrating how these factors can contribute to an adolescent’s self-esteem. Finally, you will analyze aspects of adulthood and individuation as they relate to the parents of the family, considering how their developmental journey influences their parenting approach and the family dynamics.

Submission Length: 7–11 pages in a Developmental Concepts and Processes in a Family Case Study paper. It is essential to ensure that each section is carefully crafted to meet the length requirements without compromising on the depth of analysis.

Professional Skills: Written Communication, Engaging Multiple Social and Cultural Perspectives, and Written Communication are assessed in this Competency. Developing these skills will enhance your understanding of the material and improve your ability to communicate effectively.

Your response to this Assessment should:

Reflect the criteria provided in the Rubric. It is crucial to maintain focus on these criteria throughout your writing process to align your analysis with expectations.
Adhere to the required assignment length. Careful planning and outlining will help you stay within the designated page range.
Use the APA Course Paper Template (APA 6th edition) available here. Familiarity with APA formatting will lend professionalism to your submission.

This Assessment requires submission of one (1) document that includes your analysis of the family case study which includes Parts I, II, III, and IV. Saving the document appropriately is vital for easy identification and organization.

Save this file as LF002_firstinitial_lastname (for example, LF002_J_Smith). This naming convention ensures that your submission is properly attributed to you, simplifying the review process for your assessors.

You may submit a draft of your assignment to the Turnitin Draft Check area to check for authenticity. This preliminary step can help you identify any potential areas for improvement before final submission. When you are ready to upload your completed Assessment, use the Assessment tab on the top navigation menu, ensuring that all parts of your paper are included and formatted correctly.

Title Suggestion:
“Developmental Dynamics in a Family Case Study: Analyzing Environment, Attachment, and Growth”

Rubric

Developmental Concepts and Processes in a Family Case Study

This Family Case Study will be a multi-part Assessment in which each part of the Assessment will be related to each family member. You will closely examine environmental and genetic influences on an infant in the family; examine childrearing styles and their impact on attachment for a 3-year-old; explore adolescent development of an adolescent from a previous marriage; and, finally, aspects of adulthood and individuation as it relates to the parents of the family.

The following case study depicts the circumstances surrounding the Gonzalez family:

Jane, 35, and Roberto, 31, are married and have three children. Their first child, Julie, is 3 years old and is in preschool. Alex, Jane’s son from a previous relationship, is 14 years old and is a freshman in high school. Their third child, Sam, is an infant. Ruby, Jane’s mother, has come to stay with the family to provide support to Jane and Roberto during the transition around Sam’s birth.

Jane works in the city as a medical transcriptionist but is in the midst of her 12 weeks of family leave that was effective immediately upon Sam’s birth. She has a 45-minute commute to her work each day. Roberto just began a job at a local recycling facility 2 weeks ago.

Sam was born 6 weeks premature by Cesarean delivery. His Apgar score at 1 minute was 5; after receiving oxygen, his Apgar score at 5 minutes was 8. Apart from the first few minutes after birth, Sam has not required oxygen or respiratory assistance. Because of his prematurity, Sam stayed in the hospital for 72 hours before he was discharged.

Jane drank occasionally throughout the pregnancy but reported drinking most heavily during the last trimester of her pregnancy, which was about the time Roberto got laid off from his job. There is suspicion, although not confirmed, that Sam has fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. Sam is a fussy eater, requiring short and frequent feedings. He has been home for 4 weeks and wakes up hungry every 2 hours. He does not sleep through the night.

Three-year-old Julie is in the midst of her first year of preschool in a Head Start program. This is her first experience with formal education. At home, Julie’s parents tend to have very high standards for her and expect strict obedience. Julie has been acting out at home occasionally since her brother Sam has been born. Julie’s teachers have reported that she has been struggling to get along with her peers and to focus on her work at school. At home, Roberto is a very strict disciplinarian. Julie, at times, appears fearful of her father and does not find comfort in his presence.

Alex is in the midst of his freshman year of high school. Physically, Alex went through puberty early compared to his peers. He has a girlfriend at school whom he is involved with sexually, and he is well liked among his peers. Alex excels at several sports, and plays on both the baseball and the basketball teams at high school. Alex is not motivated to do well in school, however, and does not believe homework is important.

Roberto and Jane have been married for 8 years and live in a rural area. They do not have a strong network of friends and family who live nearby but Jane’s mother has moved in with them temporarily to support them as they adjust to their new baby. Roberto and Jane’s mother get along very well. Jane is debating whether she should reduce her family leave and go back to work earlier than she planned so they can begin making money again to contribute to the household bills

Complete the following parts to generate a single paper:

Part I: Infant Development (2–3 pages)
Based on the Family Case study, write 2–3 pages for your Part I portion of your paper, and include the following:

Explain the environmental factors presented in the case study, as well as others that may be present but not specifically identified in the case study, that might affect Sam’s development.
With the environmental factors you explained, further explain what you think the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario might be for Sam’s short-term developmental outcomes in childhood, and explain why.
Be specific, provide examples, and justify your response with citations from the Resources in your Learning Activities or from your search from the literature and/or the Walden Library.

Part II: Child-Rearing Styles and Implications for Attachment (1–2 pages)
Analyze the development of Jane and Roberto’s 3-year-old Julie, and write 1–2 pages for your Part II portion of your paper. Include the following:

Identify three (3) factors in Julie’s family that currently have implications for her development.
Analyze Roberto’s parenting style and the implications of that parenting style on Julie’s attachment style.
Describe ways that Julie’s teachers can specifically support her in school given her current family dynamics at home.
Be specific, provide examples, and justify your response with citations from the Resources in your Learning Activities or from your search from the literature and/or the Walden Library.

Part III: Adolescence (2–3 pages)
Analyze the development of Alex, the 14-year-old high school freshman in this family. Write 2–3 pages addressing the following topics:

Analyze three (3) ways in which Alex’s physical changes impact his social relationships including both romantic and peer relationships. Pay special attention to the impact of timing of Alex’s puberty on development.
Explain three (3) factors that explain Alex’s current level of academic motivation. More generally, explain the implications of academic motivation for academic success, as well as other aspects of development.
Be specific, provide examples, and justify your response with citations from the Resources in your Learning Activities or from your search from the literature and/or the Walden Library.

Exploring Marital Relationships in Middle Adulthood: A Focus on Jane
Part IV: Middle Adulthood (2–3 pages)

Based on what you have been presented regarding this family case study, I have selected Jane for this part (Part IV) of the paper. Once I selected Jane, I focused on marital relationships as the aspect of adulthood that will be explored. Marital relationships are a crucial aspect of individual development, as they often shape emotional and social well-being. Understanding the nuances of these relationships can provide deeper insights into the disturbances or harmony experienced by individuals in middle adulthood.

In analyzing Jane’s experience, it’s essential to explore how physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development play significant roles in her marital relationship. Physically, changes in health and vitality during middle adulthood can influence the dynamics of marital interactions, potentially leading to shifts in intimacy and mutual support. These physical changes often necessitate adjustments within the relationship, prompting couples to renegotiate roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, cognitive development often entails a reevaluation of shared goals and expectations, influencing how partners communicate and resolve conflicts.

Socially, the connections Jane maintains with family, friends, and community play a significant role in shaping her marital relationship. Support networks can bolster coping mechanisms during challenging times and enhance the overall resilience of relationships. In contrast, emotional development—particularly the ability to express feelings and navigate conflicts—can either strengthen or weaken the marital bond, depending on how effectively partners engage with each other during stressful periods. Acknowledging these aspects is crucial for developing a holistic understanding of marital relationships during middle adulthood.

Individuation is pivotal in this context, relating to how Jane navigates her identity within her marriage as she balances personal aspirations with shared goals. This process of individuation can be complicated by various challenges that may influence her marital dynamics. The first challenge is the potential for role strain, where Jane might feel overwhelmed by fulfilling multiple responsibilities, such as career demands and family obligations. This struggle can lead to frustration and disconnection within the relationship, as partners may become preoccupied with personal stressors, neglecting emotional intimacy.

The second challenge is the phenomenon of empty nest syndrome, which can arise as children grow up and leave home. This transition often necessitates a reevaluation of the marital relationship, as couples may find themselves facing an emotional void. This period can be marked by feelings of loss and uncertainty, which can strain the connection between partners if not addressed. Therefore, open communication and mutual support are crucial during this transitional phase to maintain the relationship’s health.

The third challenge involves the impact of external stressors, such as financial pressures or health issues, that can lead to increased anxiety and conflict within the marriage. These stressors can create a sense of instability, prompting partners to react defensively, potentially hindering effective communication and problem-solving. Addressing these challenges requires both partners to engage in active listening and empathy to foster a supportive atmosphere that encourages growth and collaboration within the marital relationship.

Be specific, provide examples, and justify your response with citations from the resources in your Learning Activities or from your search from the literature and/or the Walden Library.

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