Jamal and Louise have an emotionally distant marriage, and both of their families of origin were disengaged. They tended to lean on their daughter, Andrea, for emotional support instead of each other. When Andrea announced her engagement, her parents felt like she was abandoning them, and acted rudely towards her fiancé. Andrea herself felt guilty for leaving, but also angry that her family was not supporting her. In this example, Andrea's engagement could be labeled as a_________ stressor, and the resulting distress in the family is caused by_______ stress.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Andrea's engagement is a horizontal stressor because it is a significant life event that affects the entire family. The resulting distress in the family is caused by vertical stress, which is stress that is passed down from one generation to the next. In this case, Jamal and Louise's disengaged families of origin have created a pattern of emotional distance that is now being passed on to Andrea and her fiancé.

Jamal and Louise Have an Emotionally Distant Marriage, and Both