The Impact of Poverty on the Family System Functioning

This study aims to examine how life in poverty affects the functioning of family system. We focused on family functioning in the dimensions based on McMaster model. We employed The Family Assessment Device.The result shows that there is an association between poverty and disrupted family functioning. Family functioning in different dimensions is in the range of “unhealthy”, mainly in communication, behaviour control and family role. Family stress caused by problems with the fulfilment of the family economic function, affects the way parents fulfill their parental role.We consider it necessary to focus on effective interventions to help families living in poverty in the restoration of family functioning in different dimensions.