Jennifer Halliday
Marriage and Family Relations, Fall 2017, Dr. Sharon M. Ballard, CFLE
The Importance of Maintaining Strong Family Structure
Consistency and strength within the family structure is proven to maintain and grow
strong family relationships, as well as more successful, happier children and adults. Only in
severe circumstances, such as abuse or violence, does it benefits the family members to follow
through with parental separation or divorce. Children often benefit from seeing their parents
work through problems and exemplifying unconditional love in the face of hardships and/or
disagreements. In our society, due to medical advances and changes in social norms, men and
women are getting married later in life and having fewer children. Many are choosing
cohabitation over traditional marriages. Divorce is more readily available and parents often
