f for family

The communication between families these days is a matter of great concern, especially where the family members hardly communicate with each other. There are a lot of reasons which hamper the frequency and efficiency of communication between people. Furthermore, due to lack of words between the family members, misunderstandings become a common ground which further affect the relationships in the family. It is important to understand the problems and the consequences of the same to help individuals regain interest in communicating with their family and help them maintain a healthy relationship.

There can be many reasons for Communication gap like-

• Over Controlling parents

• No time for family (School/office work burden/ not interested)

• Excessive use of gadgets

• Lack of mutual understanding

• Constantly fighting parents

• Parents disrespecting each other in front of kids

• Finding faults in each other

• Making fun of kids in public

• Fulfilling kids’ demands before time

• Too much independence, etc.

• Masked and indirect communication.

Following can be the consequences of communication gap in a family-

• Stressful environment

• Blaming each other for everything

• Low self esteem

• Low self confidence

• Criticizing others

• Physical/mental abuse

• Psychological disorders (anxiety/ depression/ bipolar etc.)

• Insensitive towards feeling of others

• Always finding self as the victim

• Social withdrawal

• Conflicts

Each year, between 30 and 40 people per 100,000 Indians aged between 15 and 29 kill themselves, major reason being Family Problems. This accounts for about a third of all suicides in the country.

There is a need to build the communication gap to:

· To reduce the numbers of suicides happening

· To help the person build successful relationships with family members and others

· To develop the feeling of sensitivity towards the needs of others

· To help people communicate their feelings easily and openly.

The gap can be bridged by:

• Talking to each other directly and clearly

• Maintaining a nurturing family environment

• Listening to each other’s problems

• Being a good listener

• Encouraging positives of others rather than always pointing their negatives

• Indulging in various family activities

• Hanging out together

• Respecting each other, etc.

REFERENCES

Bailey, S. J., 2009. Montana State University Extension. [Online] Available at: https://msuextension.org/stillwater/fcsmontguides/PositiveFamilyCommunication.pdf [Accessed February 2018].

Chadda, R. K. & Deb, K. S., 2013. NCBI. [Online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705700/ [Accessed February 2018].

L., M., 2016. Life Advancer. [Online] Available at: https://www.lifeadvancer.com/controlling-parents-deal-with-them [Accessed February 2018].

Mukunth, V., 2014. Four charts show why India's youth suicide rate is among the world's highest. The Daily Brief, 12 December.

National Crime Records Bureau, 2015. Causes – wise Distribution of Suicides during 2015 (All India). s.l.:s.n.

Raising Children Network, 2015. Raising Children Network. [Online] Available at: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/family_relationships_teenagers.html [Accessed 12 February 2018].

Sethi, B., 1989. NCBI. [Online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2990867/ [Accessed February 2018].