The Top 5 Family Pressures - And How to Deal With Them

More than half of people (52%) say money is one of the pressures they face in their family. As well as not having enough money, people say debt, the cost of living, and housing costs are current pressures.

“If you’re struggling to make ends meet, do something – don’t wait until you can’t pay the bills,” stresses Holmes.

It can be helpful to create a budget to set out what money you’ve got coming in, your financial commitments, and where you could spend less. Holmes says Family Action has helped many families sort out money matters, such as checking they’re getting all the state benefits they’re entitled to, negotiating a debt repayment plan with a lender, or shopping around for a cheaper energy deal.

Half of people say health and wellness, including physical and mental health and disability, is one of the pressures they face. Understanding who to approach and what help is available is often stressful itself, so Family Action suggests writing down what you need to go through with your GP before an appointment, including any worries you may have, or what’s been happening at home.

If your child has a long-term health condition, go through their individual healthcare plan with their headteacher and check the school’s policy to support students who have long-term health needs.

Holmes advises: “Parents can feel all their attention needs to be on their child or older relative who needs support, but not looking after yourself or staying healthy can make managing family pressures even harder.”

Half of parents (49%) are worried about not having enough time together, or not having quality time together, because of other pressures such as work. But Holmes points out: “Quality time doesn’t have to be lots of time. It could simply be eating dinner as a family, playing a game or going for a walk in the park.”

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He says psychologists suggest the nine most important minutes in a child’s day are the first three after they wake up, when you or they get home, and just before bedtime, and adds:”This is when to give them your full attention. You might feel under pressure to go on expensive days out, but simply creating a den in the garden can be as good for boosting your family’s bond and for creating happy memories.”

Two in five people are feeling pressure from work or education (40%), with the Family Action research identifying work pressures, including job security worries as well as job hunting or being out of work, and finding the right work/life balance.

Education pressures focus on worries about a child’s education and their future prospects. As well as tackling the curriculum, children may find relationships with peers and/or teachers hard, so it’s important for parents to help manage these worries, says Holmes.

“Take a few minutes to give your child your full attention, listen to what they have to say, and show understanding in your responses,” he advises. “Be specific in what you ask and show you’ve listened to what they’ve said, and this will help you draw out what they’re thinking and feeling.”