Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

According to Duvall and Miller's theory, what is true about family development?

1. Each family is developmentally unique.

2. Families complete developmental tasks separately.

3. Families demonstrate common forms of membership across developmental stages.

4. Families do not change over time.

The correct answer is: Families demonstrate common forms of membership across developmental stages.

The idea that families demonstrate common forms of membership across developmental stages is rooted in Duvall and Miller's family development theory. This theory emphasizes that while each family may have its unique characteristics, they generally follow a predictable sequence of stages and tasks throughout their development. These stages are aligned with significant events and transitions that families typically experience, such as marriage, childbearing, and aging. At each developmental stage, families adapt and reorganize, exhibiting consistent roles and relationships that help define family membership. This demonstrates that despite individual differences, there are universal aspects of family dynamics as they progress through stages. These shared forms of membership encompass roles, responsibilities, and interactions that change and evolve over time, acting as a framework for understanding family development. Understanding this concept is crucial for family nurse practitioners as it informs how they assess family functioning, provide support during transitions, and facilitate healthy family dynamics. In contrast, the other options do not align with Duvall and Miller's core principles, which focus on the developmental journey of families rather than their isolation or a static nature.