Family Issues Research Articles

Family framing in Romania after EU accession: an analysis of silenced problems within strategic policy documents

ABSTRACT Various social science and multidisciplinary investigations have focused mainly on what the family is and how to analyse it. However, these studies have paid less attention to what is not said and what remains silenced about the family and family-related problems. Starting from the assumption that silencing is a discourse-constitutive feature, this article investigates family frames and inherent silences within Romanian public policy documents. The empirical material consists of a specific collection of sources, namely national strategies for child protection, care for older people, employment, and equal opportunities, adopted during 2007–2024, i.e. after Romania’s accession to the European Union. The article interrogates how national strategies frame family issues and what remains silenced and obscured within this relevant collection of policy documents. It identifies various ways in which policymakers draw attention to certain points of view concerning family life to the detriment of other perspectives and angles of investigation. Additionally, it uncovers the unspoken and silently accepted correlation of the family with vulnerability, poverty, and invisibility, which can contribute to explaining the domestic tendency to marginalize the family as a political topic and to elaborate inconsistent public action related to it.

Analysing The Stress Level Management For Cancer Patients In India

In human life, stress is frequently associated with strain, concern, anxiety, and pressure. Stress can have positive or negative impacts and is a necessary part of life, as is well acknowledged. Physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, or social impacts are all possible. A person experiencing illness experiences additional stress, so it is occasionally necessary to find a speedy solution to such a stressful scenario in order to determine whether an increasing level of stress could eventually overwhelm the person experiencing it. Comprehending the notion of stress is crucial, as it offers a means of perceiving an individual as a cohesive entity that reacts comprehensively to diverse forms of disorder seen in everyday existence. Patients with cancer and tuberculosis experienced anxiety as a result of their unlucky diagnosis, societal unrest, financial difficulties, and familial issues. Compared to others, they experience higher levels of stress, tension, annoyance, and anxiety as a result. For the patient, the only options are costly surgery or chemotherapy. This takes a lot of time and requires the patient's family to be very involved, both physically and emotionally. As a result, the cancer patient faces stress during the whole therapeutic process. Thus, the purpose of this study is to look into how cancer patients control their stress levels.

Analyzing The Stress Level Management for Cancer Patients in India

In human life, stress is frequently associated with strain, concern, anxiety, and pressure. Stress can have positive or negative impacts and is a necessary part of life, as is well acknowledged. Physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, or social impacts are all possible. A person experiencing illness experiences additional stress, so it is occasionally necessary to find a speedy solution to such a stressful scenario in order to determine whether an increasing level of stress could eventually overwhelm the person experiencing it. Comprehending the notion of stress is crucial, as it offers a means of perceiving an individual as a cohesive entity that reacts comprehensively to diverse forms of disorder seen in everyday existence. Patients with cancer and tuberculosis experienced anxiety as a result of their unlucky diagnosis, societal unrest, financial difficulties, and familial issues. Compared to others, they experience higher levels of stress, tension, annoyance, and anxiety as a result. For the patient, the only options are costly surgery or chemotherapy. This takes a lot of time and requires the patient's family to be very involved, both physically and emotionally. As a result, the cancer patient faces stress during the whole therapeutic process. Thus, the purpose of this study is to look into how cancer patients control their stress levels.

Ambivalent Purview of Kinship Care: Insights from Stakeholders

The realm of alternative care for children covers a variety of care systems, which include residential care, small group homes, mother and child shelters, transit homes, adoption, foster care and kinship care. The United Nations General Assembly’s 2019 resolution on children’s rights emphasises the significance of family-based environments for children, particularly those without parental care, and underlines their right to grow up in a family setting. In light of this resolution, kinship care emerges as a crucial family-based care avenue for children lacking parental care. In India, kinship care stands as the predominant form of care for children lacking sufficient parental support and is the most common form of care in almost all regions, religions, castes and ethnic groups due to the tradition of the joint family system and close ties among relatives. While this care option is the most common form of out-of-home care, it is also the least systematically recorded, monitored or supported structure. The study, through the lens of kinship carers, ward and village-level child protection committees and community workers, focuses on the important aspects of support, motivation, love, responsibility and challenges that underlie providing care for children without parental care. This qualitative study employs ethnographic interview techniques to understand the most authentic experiences of kinship carers. Families were initially identified based on secondary data captured from the assessment and intervention planning done using the Thrive Scale™ tool as part of the case management process. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six families from two different communities (one urban community in the state of Maharashtra and one rural community located in the state of Gujarat in India) to assess the existing support structures available for kinship carers and their families, identifying gaps and measures being taken to address them to ensure meaningful well-being of children and kinship families. The study discusses various challenges of kinship families, from financial struggles to familial disconnection, lack of housing infrastructure or access to healthcare, family issues like alcoholism or child labour, lack of education or livelihood and social isolation. The study further recommends increased attention and resources directed towards supporting kinship carers, acknowledging their invaluable role in providing love, support and stability to children without parental care, and also emphasises the importance of recognising and formalising kinship care within a broader framework of alternative care for children. Miracle Foundation India is committed towards ensuring that every child has an opportunity to grow up in a family, to become a healthy, happy, income-producing person and to experience a true sense of belonging. The paramount significance of kinship care is recognised by Miracle India in its sphere of both the prevention of child separation from family and reintegration work. After a thorough assessment of these families on the five key domains of well-being—physical and mental health, education, family and social relationships, household economy and living conditions—and continuous monitoring and follow-up, Miracle India provided a comprehensive support service to these families, strengthened them and ensured sustained access to support services, ultimately promoting child welfare. During this study, the focus remained on prioritising the implementation of supportive policies and resources for kinship caregivers to ensure that every child in vulnerable circumstances thrives within the warmth and stability of a loving and caring family.

A Case Study of Female Clients’ Experiences of Psychotherapy in Islamabad

The current study is based on a qualitative analysis of experiences of five female patients who are under treatment for mental health disorders. The main aim was to highlight the contribution of psychosocial factors in the development of their symptoms and analyze the challenges they face in seeking treatment. Selection of the cases was done using purposive sampling technique and five clients within age range of 25-43 years were selected who had been in psychotherapy for at least ten sessions. Sessions of the clients were recorded by notes taking by the researcher with consent while they took session with their counselor. Thematic analysis of the notes reveals that women suffering from different mental health disorders lack social support from family and friends. Their family issues and social support emerged as significant factors triggering symptoms of anxiety, depression, post- partum depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. The major challenges in utilizing mental healthcare services includes lack of awareness about mental disorders, stigma and perceived side effects of medications. The study highlights need for gender specific therapeutic interventions taking social and cultural factors into consideration to provide holistic treatment.

Mapping the Trajectory of Popular Culture: From Rock Album Narratives to Video Game Transmediality

Popular culture is not a coherent concept; it lacks an organic whole and is subject to change. It is neither fixed nor concrete, with its modus operandi rooted in everyday life. It does not possess a definitive meaning, as it is constantly being redefined and reevaluated, and the canon of pop culture works is continually expanding. During its heyday in the 1960s, pop culture evolved, shaping both its passive and active roles. The passive (mass) aspect reflects a tendency to act as a “mirror” of reality, as it is and as it should be, adding a certain degree of glamour within the entertainment industry, major Hollywood productions, and politically correct celebrities. The active aspect relies on the potential for social action within pop culture. Pop culture has become capable of supporting and leading significant cultural changes, such as in music, film, literature, and shifting social attitudes toward war and destruction, family, religion, and other critical issues since the 1960s. In the 21st century, the activity, vitality, and relevance of pop culture are based on technology, AI, and video gaming. Other narratives become allusive and outdated, yet they still define the modes of life of the era. This paper aims to first investigate and define the trajectory of popular culture and, consequently, to project the future directions and modalities we can expect, considering the increasing significance and impact of popular culture juxtaposed with elite culture.

A Digital Clock Drawing Test on Tablet for the Diagnosis of Neurocognitive Disorders in Older Adults.

The diagnosis of neurocognitive diseases is an important health issue for patients, families and healthcare professionals. The need to develop rapid, high-performance screening tools would improve access to care. The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is widely used and validated with the older adults, and its digital version is becoming increasingly widespread. We propose to confirm its validity in a population of old patients hospitalized in a geriatric unit, and secondly to verify its performance in comparison with the reference diagnosis made by a specialized team in a memory consultation. CDTs were collected from older hospitalized patients, both in paper form and digitally on a touchscreen tablet. The results show good agreement between the paper and digital versions (kappa coefficient = 0.81). Sensitivity and specificity of the digital CDT were 0.84 and 0.59 respectively for the diagnosis of major cognitive disorders. The corresponding values were 0.72 and 0.59 for the diagnosis of mild neurocognitive disorders. User questionnaires indicate that older participants find the digital tablet easy to use. However, they prefer to use paper, even if they are open to learning how to use the tablet.

Reasons for gender inequities in invasive electrophysiology: a survey on family issues and career paths of female and male electrophysiology fellows in Germany.

Female physicians are underrepresented in invasive electrophysiology (EP) for multiple reasons. Despite an increasing focus on the topic, it is unclear what aspects are predominant. We conducted a survey on career paths of current or former EP fellows in Germany to elucidate how gender and family affected their careers. 231 fellows (24.2% female) were invited. 110 participants completed the survey (30.9% female, mean age 41.0 ± 5.0 years, and 79.1% with children). Female and male participants with children reported similar career goals and achievements before parenthood, but afterwards women changed their career paths more often. Major reasons were personal priorities followed by lack of flexibility at work and at home. Women covered the majority of childcare. At the time of the survey, 80.0% of women and 96.4% of men with a former career goal of invasive EP were active in invasive EP. Independent of age, women were in lower-level positions, had accomplished fewer professional achievements, were less satisfied with their work and had fewer children. 56.5% of women did not feel supported by their employers regarding family issues. 82.6% reported there was no satisfactory day care. 69.6% were unable to continue to follow their career during pregnancy, mostly due to restrictions by employers (75.0%). Dedicated policies for pregnant workers or support programmes were scarce. Beside the distribution of childcare at home, lack of flexibility and support by employers as well as working and fluoroscopy restrictions during pregnancy hamper women in EP and should be addressed.

Gender disparities in suicide prevalence and risk factors in Bangladesh

Effective preventive methods for suicide need a thorough understanding of the risk factors associated with this complex and varied public health issue. This research aims to explore instances of suicide as documented in Bangladeshi newspapers, specifically examining distinctive risk factors associated with gender and demographics. 13 national daily newspapers were selected purposively data in this investigation. The logistic regression method was used for analysis and fitting to the dataset. Higher suicide odds among individuals under 30 and employed individuals. Significant regional differences are noted, with Khulna having a rate of 1.05 (OR=1.05, 95% CI: [0.45-1.42]) and Chittagong the lowest at 76% (OR=0.24, 95% CI: [0.18-0.41]) compared to Sylhet. Certain methods like hanging, poisoning, and jumping show elevated odds 1.75 (95% CI: [1.51-1.86]), 1.83 (95% CI: [0.79-1.98]), and 1.72 (95% CI: [1.53-1.97]), respectively, compared to self-harm methods among women, while factors like family issues and blackmail exhibit significantly higher odds 2.82 (95% CI: [1.85-3.10]), 1.01 (95% CI: [0.89-1.12]), and 2.06 (95% CI: [1.99-2.15]), respectively, compared to physical illness among women. By elucidating the intricacies associated with suicide risk factors in Bangladesh, our study adds to the international conversation on suicide prevention by promoting a more sophisticated comprehension of gender differences to augment the efficacy of public health campaigns. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2024, 10(3), 110-118

Sociocultural perceptions of physical activity and dietary habits for hypertension control: voices from adults in a rural sub-district of South Africa

BackgroundOver half of adults from rural South Africa are hypertensive. Apart from pharmaceutical treatment, lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and reducing dietary salt have been strongly advocated for the control of hypertension. However, the control rates of hypertension for adults in rural South Africa are low. In this paper we explore whether this is due to the recommended lifestyle intervention not aligning with the individual’s socio-cultural determinants of behaviour change.AimTo explore the social and cultural beliefs, perceptions and practices regarding physical activity and diet as a hypertension control intervention on hypertensive adults living in a rural sub-district in South Africa.MethodsNine focus group discussions were conducted with hypertensive adults aged 40 years and above from Bushbuckridge sub-district in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa using a semi-structured interview guide. Each session began with introductions of the discussion theme followed by a short discussion on what the participants know about hypertension and the normal blood pressure readings. Physical activity and dietary habits were then introduced as the main subject of discussion. Probing questions were used to get more insight on a specific topic. A thematic analysis approach was used to generate codes, categories, and themes. A manual approach to data analysis was chosen and data obtained through transcripts were analysed inductively.FindingsParticipants had a lack of knowledge about blood pressure normal values. Perceived causes of hypertension were alluded to psychosocial factors such as family and emotional-related issues. Physical activity practices were influenced by family and community members’ attitudes and gender roles. Factors which influenced dietary practices mainly involved affordability and availability of food. To control their hypertension, participants recommend eating certain foods, emotional control, taking medication, exercising, praying, correct food preparation, and performing house chores.ConclusionLifestyle interventions to control hypertension for adults in a rural South African setting using physical activity promotion and dietary control must consider the beliefs related to hypertension control of this population.

Motivations for suicide attempts and risk factors among youths in Western Iran: A cross-sectional study.

Suicide attempts are a fundamental problem in health care systems and are known for their complex and multifaceted nature. This study aimed to explore the reasons for suicide attempts and to identify associated factors in western Iran. In Asadabad, western Iran, a cross-sectional study was carried out between April 2020 and March 2021. A nonrandom sampling method was used to select 110 participants, ages 15-35. Structured questionnaires such as the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the Suicide Motivation Scale (IMSA) were used to gather the data. Multiple linear regression, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and independent t tests were all used in the data analysis. The majority of participants (59.1%) were female, with a mean age of 25.78 years. The most common reason for suicide attempts (43.6%) was family issues, and the most popular means (66.4%) were pills and medication. Eighty-nine percent of participants had symptoms of depression. The mean scores were calculated for motivation for suicide attempts (32.46 ± 16.11), depression (34.60 ± 20.50), and anxiety (34.14 ± 15.69). The analysis showed that the motivation for suicide attempts and anxiety was greater in single persons than in married and divorced persons (p < 0.05). Motivation for suicide attempts was also greater in low- to middle-income individuals with a history of divorce (p < 0.05). The multiple regression model showed that anxiety, sex, education, and medical history significantly influenced the motivation for suicide attempts (p < 0.001). The results showed that a wide range of social, economic, and cultural factors and psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, are involved in suicide attempts. This study aimed to design interventions and strategies to prioritize mental health, improve life skills to control stressful events, and focus on high-risk groups (women, married people, people with low education levels, and those with a history of physical and mental illnesses) for suicide prevention in health promotion programs.

Mubadalah's Perspective Family Education In Realizing The Maslahah Family

This study aims to apply the concept of maslahah family education in everyday life, emphasizing the importance of educational values and good morals in every family interaction. Maslahah family education seeks to build a harmonious family by instilling positive values that can serve as a guide in facing various situations and challenges in life. Each family member is expected to apply these values in real actions, creating an environment conducive to personal growth and development. In dealing with family problems, it is important for each member to discuss and deliberate in order to reach a mutual agreement. Good communication is key in this process, where every opinion is valued, and individual egos do not become obstacles in finding solutions. The mubadalah approach, which emphasizes equality and justice, can be a strong foundation in resolving family conflicts. By deliberating and prioritizing common interests, family issues can be effectively resolved. This study uses a field qualitative method, recording various problems encountered in the field and analyzing them descriptively using supportive references. The results show that the approach of deliberation, discussion, and good communication can resolve family issues without prioritizing personal egos. The application of the maslahah family concept in society can be a solution to maintain the integrity of the household, while the mubadalah approach can be used as an effective method in finding solutions to various family problems.

The right to education and attitudes toward Hijras in Bangladesh: assessing educational support to achieve sustainable communities

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the current educational opportunities available to hermaphrodite (Hijra) students, analyze their difficulties while pursuing academic degrees and suggest potential approaches to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach This research used a qualitative method to analyze the challenges Hijra individuals face in pursuing education. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with two Hijra groups those who are pursuing an education and those who have abandoned it to collect primary data. The purposive sampling technique was used to identify and choose diverse sources of information. Moreover, the phenomena have been comprehended using the Access Theory and the Gender Stratification Theory. Findings The findings show that although every Bangladeshi has the right to a decent education, few Hijra youngsters attend schools. Numerous barriers, such as discriminatory views and remarks about third-gender people, physical and mental harassment, a lack of emotional and financial support, family issues, discrimination in the school community and hostility from classmates and teachers, make it difficult for hermaphrodite students to receive a proper education. Originality/value This research paper fills a gap in the current body of knowledge by presenting empirical evidence regarding young people’s perceptions of the third-gender, the societal barriers faced by Hijra individuals in their pursuit of quality education, their future opportunities, the root causes of these challenges and possible solutions.

Examining the State of Suicidality in Youth and Young Adults: A Scoping Review of the Literature on Suicidality across Muslim and Arab Countries from January 2000 to March 2024

Objective: Suicide is a global concern and one of the leading causes of death among youth. This systematic review aims to summarize the current state of literature on suicidality rates and known risk and protective factors among youth in Muslim and Arab countries. Method: A comprehensive search strategy was employed through Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Proquest Dissertations &amp; Theses Global, and Web of Science, from January 2000 to March 2024. Articles were included if they examined youth up to 18 years of age who had reported mental health conditions. Results: 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed that suicide mortality rates in Muslim and Arab youth ranged from 0.5% to 8.9%. Suicide attempt rates varied from 4.3% to 11.4% across different countries. Risk factors for suicidality included anxiety, depression, stress, abuse or bullying, family issues, smoking, low socioeconomic status, guilt and shame, and loneliness/isolation. Protective factors identified were higher socioeconomic status, satisfaction with social life, a sense of belonging, coping strategies, strong family environments, and religious beliefs. Gender-specific differences were limited, and more research is needed to explore this aspect. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for improved reporting of suicide data and more comprehensive research focusing on younger populations. Understanding suicidality rates and culturally specific risk and protective factors is crucial for effective suicide prevention and treatment strategies among youth in these regions. Further research is warranted to address the limitations and gaps in the current literature.

Marital compatibility and its role in family stability

Successful marital compatibility is achieved by resolving understanding, aligning interests, exchanging respect, and maintaining equality in the assessment of family issues. It is also associated with stability in personal characteristics such as the willingness to give up a challenging stance in discussions, patience in seeking advice, the ability to avoid subjugating and humiliating others, as well as love, agreement and good relations between spouses and other family members. The psychological and social security felt by the wife plays an important role in ensuring happiness and marital compatibility. It ensures family stability, which is the focus of this article by highlighting the role of marital compatibility in family stability and supporting it with a field study on couples' attitudes towards contraceptive use.

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among medical students of a rural medical college in Karnataka

Introduction: Depression among medical students is an overlooked public health issue in India. Addressing this problem is crucial to prevent its negative impact on educational performance and career development through early detection and appropriate interventions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among medical students. Materials and methods: 305 medical students selected randomly were assessed for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory. The relationships between depression and various factors, including academic year, social influences such as addictive habits, family issues, a history of depression, and living away from home were assessed. Results: 137 (44.91%) students were found to have some degree of depression according to Becks Inventory Scale. Majority (81.02%) of them were found to have mild to moderate depression while the prevalence of severe and very severe depression was 6.10% and 2.25% respectively. The difference between the grade of depression and year of studying was found to be statistically significant. Factors such as being coerced into the MBBS program instead of choosing it, academic performance during the course, and a history of previous depression had a significant impact on the likelihood of developing depression. Conclusion: Depression is notably common among medical students in this region. Our results highlight the need for widespread screening and psychiatric counseling for this vulnerable group. Keywords: medical students; depression; Becks depression; inventory scale

Psychosocial Factors Influencing Grade 7 Learners’ Performance in Mathematics Classes: A Focus on Primary Schools in the Northern Cape, South Africa

This study explored the psychosocial factors influencing Grade 7 learners’ performance in mathematics classes at primary schools in Frances Baard District in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative interpretive approach infused with a multiple-case study design. The thematic results showed that some learners were not fully engaged in the mathematics classes despite having the necessary resources, including qualified teachers. The study revealed that family and community issues affect learners’ academic performance in mathematics classes. It further found that some learners struggle to comprehend mathematical concepts taught in English, their second language. Furthermore, it highlighted why learner engagement is so weak in the intermediate-phase mathematics classroom. The reasons why learners’ mathematics marks declined in Grade 7 have also been discussed in this study. The study found that the socio-economic factors that affect learners in South African schools can be eliminated if we enlist the support of social services available to South African learners. The study recommends that teachers enhance their pedagogical approaches to fit learners’ home languages, locations, and socioeconomic circumstances. This study supports the notion that more learner-centered approaches be used in the mathematics classroom and adds to existing literature on the subject. Keywords: Mathematics Teachers, Academic Performance, Mathematics Classes, Primary Schools

Women and Modern Families: An Analysis of Quraish Shihab's Perspectives

In modern families, Islamic values are increasingly eroded due to the challenges posed by the advancement of information and communication technology. In contemporary Muslim families, wives often work outside the home but still serve as the primary educators within the family. This article aims to elucidate the concept of a harmonious family in the context of modern life, according to Quraish Shihab. The research employs a qualitative method with data collection techniques based on a literature review, examining Quraish Shihab's thoughts through his works from 1996 to 2022, encompassing ten books related to family issues. The findings reveal that Quraish Shihab places significant emphasis on the role of women and family. According to his works, including "Perempuan" and "Pengantin Al-Qur’an," a harmonious family involves prospective spouses getting to know each other before marriage, having a lawful marriage contract in Islam, and ensuring the presence of a guardian during the marriage ceremony. Couples should support each other, exchange roles, and maintain good communication. Shihab also highlights the importance of women's roles in working and education in modern families, advocates for balanced marriage ages, and outlines the conditions under which divorce is permissible in Islam. These principles are highly relevant to the realities faced by modern families today.

Threads of Vulnerability: A Cross-sectional Study on Factors Associated with Suicide and Self-harm in Pakistan

Background: Globally, over a million people commit suicide every year. Although suicide rates are more in high-income countries, many countries do not report suicide cases regularly to the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors associated with suicide and self-harm in Pakistan. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Peoples Medical College Hospital (PMCH) in Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh, Pakistan, from July to December 2019. A total of 131 cases of suicide/self-harm were included using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected on a predesigned questionnaire consisting of 14 close-ended questions. A chi-square test was used to determine the association between different categorical variables. Results: The majority of the subjects were males (53.4%), young adults aged between 16 and 30 years (69.5%), single (51.9%), and uneducated (57.3%). More than half (51.9%) of the subjects who attempted suicide or self-harm were unemployed. There was a significant association between education level (c2 =13.149, P = 0.001) and age groups (c2 = 15.554, P = 0.001) with health outcomes (suicide or self-harm) only. Moreover, gender (c2 = 20.776, P = 0.004), marital status (c2 = 69.047, P &lt; 0.001), level of education (c2 = 63.144, P &lt; 0.001), age groups (c2 = 69.848, P &lt; 0.001), and employment status (c2 = 28.677, P = 0.012) were also associated with the reasons of suicide and self-harm. Conclusion: Our study concluded that mostly single, unemployed males with low literacy and with marital and family issues are determined as factors associated with a high risk of self-harm and suicide.

Pragmatic acts of humour in family discourse in selected Maryam Apaokagi's comedy skits

Humour plays a crucial role in family discourse as it fosters emotional connection, diffuses tension, and promotes open communication by providing a light-hearted and relatable atmosphere. Extant studies on family discourse have focused on (im)politeness strategies and pragmatic markers. However, scant attention has been paid to the communicative functions of humour in family discourse. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate humour in Maryam Apaokagi’s comedy skits, to identify the types, their pragmatic functions, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the discourse. Jacob Mey’s Pragmatic Acts Theory served as the theoretical framework. Data for the study comprised eight selected Maryam Apaokagi’s comedy skits, produced in Nigeria. The selection is based on their humorous reflections of family issues and subjected to pragmatic analysis. Findings reveal that pragmatic acts exist in four interlocutory contexts among family members: couple (husband-wife) relationship; sibling(s)-relationship; mother-child relationship; and distant-family relationship. The contexts are indexed by eight pragmatic acts and functions which underpin expressions of humour: warning to threaten the husband, promising to raise hopes, requesting to make a mockery of the elder brother, ordering to deliberately disrespect the elder sister, questioning to persuade and apologise indirectly, scolding to condemn a child’s inappropriate actions, exaggerating to boast and show off, speculating to impress the mother and indict the child. Employed with wit to avoid serious conflicts, these humorous acts were largely foregrounded by conversational, psychological and physical acts, and underscored by such contextual factors as inference, reference, relevance, and shared situation knowledge to humorously depict how family issues are variously handled.