Causes of Family Brokenness
There are many causes of brokenness within families. A broken family relationship can be multifaceted and often stem from more than one source. That said, common factors can include marital discord, financial strain, substance abuse, or a family member’s mental health issues. Identifying and trying to understand underlying causes can help when trying to heal fractured family relations.
Financial strain and economic pressure
Financial strain and economic pressure can be significant factors in a family’s breakdown. When families struggle to meet basic needs, the resulting stress can quickly lead to conflict. Over time, persistent financial difficulties can affect trust between partners, causing marital issues that, in some cases, lead to divorce and family estrangement.
The constant pressure to make ends meet when money is tight can also impact parenting. When parents are preoccupied or stressed over finances, it can cause emotional unavailability for their children, leading to an unstable or insecure environment.
Mental health issues and their impact
Mental health can have a profound impact on families. When someone you care about struggles with a condition like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or bipolar disorder, it impacts the whole family. The resulting misunderstandings, emotional distance, ineffective communication, and lack of support can be devastating. Left untreated, mental health issues can cause deep wounds that ultimately lead to a breakdown in the family structure, causing a broken family relationship.
Substance abuse and addiction
Substance use and addiction can be damaging to any relationship. Addiction can cause significant emotional, financial, and psychological stress that’s difficult for families to navigate.
Addictive behaviors often lead to neglect, abuse, and loss of trust. Family members who are dealing with someone who has an addiction might feel confused about their feelings of betrayal, anger, and helplessness as they try to understand and help.
Infidelity and trust issues
Infidelity and trust issues in a relationship are common reasons for family brokenness. Infidelity breaches a fundamental trust between partners that can be near-impossible to heal from. Feelings of betrayal, hurt, and even rage can cause a ripple effect that leads to jealousy issues, suspicion, and emotional distancing between partners.
If children are involved in a situation where infidelity occurs, it can further complicate the dynamics. Children will likely experience confusion and insecurity and struggle with feeling divided in their loyalty.
Parenting differences and disagreements
Parenting can be difficult under the best circumstances. Staying on the same page with a partner takes incredible effort and determination. When parents have conflicting views about how to raise children, discipline, education, or even fundamental values, it can cause tension in the household. Children often feel caught in the middle and are confused by the mixed messages they get from differing parenting styles.
In some cases, parental differences can lead to divorce, which further exacerbates the impact of family brokenness. Although every family and situation is unique, research shows that parental separation and divorce can be damaging to children. Children living with separated or divorced parents are up to 2 times more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.
Cultural and intergenerational conflicts
Cultural or intergenerational conflicts in families can cause misunderstandings that disrupt harmony in the home. Multicultural and intergenerational issues often revolve around lifestyle choices, careers, marriage, parenting styles, or generational trauma and differences. Unless a conscious effort is made to navigate these differences respectfully, the divide can cause resentment and alienation.
