Family Structure and Functioning and the Implications for Child Well-being in Albania

Abstract

In the socio-demographic transitional times, the Albanian family has undergone considerable change in its structure and functioning and during the processes of socialization and interaction (Parson, 1956) it is supporting child development in a different manner (Tushi, 2012). The childhood is being indicated in the international literature as crucially important in the trajectory of human development, and early cognitive stimulation and body integrity are early life determinants of later development. This paper investigates the implication of the family structure and function on child well-being. The research questions are explored through bivariate analyses using nationally representative data from the Albanian Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS), 2008-09, and the theoretical framework relies on the Capability Approach theory (CA), (Sen, 1999) applied to measure child well-being in a family context. The independent factors concerns family structure and family functioning identified through some indicators believed to define parental attitudes towards childrearing such as fertility preference, desired number of children, and provision of adequate care to children. The parent–child interaction is observed through the parent’s involvement in stimulating the child to enjoy early cognitive development and body integrity. Therefore, the stimulation of cognitive values as well as the parental discipline style are expected to support the development of two central capabilities of ‘Senses, imagination, thought’ and ‘Bodily integrity’ (Nussbaum, 2011) in order to ensure well-being during childhood. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n9p377