Normative and Non-normative stress Flashcards
What is normative stress?
Usually normative family stress (expectable family life cycle changes, such as getting married or having a child) would not be considered a significant risk for families. However, in some instances and contexts, they could pose significant risk.
For example, if the timing of a normative change departs from societal
Expectations it may be harder to manage, such as a teenager having a baby. Or the meaning of a normative event, influenced by social and cultural factors, could increase the risk.
Also, families with few protective resources (such as income, education, social support), could be classified as high risk as they would be more likely to have difficulty with normative transitions.
What is Non-normative Stress?
Non-normative stresses, which are unexpected and many times traumatic, are more likely to fit the definition of significant risk.
Clearly, there is a range of such events from natural disasters, such as earthquake and tsunami, to the premature death of a parent or child. It may even involve man-made events, e.g. haze and SARS.
