Quantitative Evaluation of Family Functions and Changes in a Postmodern Context

Society lives the transition between modernity and postmodernity. In this context, the family is considered as a fully dynamic system that changes over time. Therefore, family structures are in constant motion, and family functions also require changes. Sometimes the functions in the family change, but the structures do not, so conflicts within the family may appear. The objective of this research is to show how families evaluate their role in the postmodern context. Hence, the evaluation was carried out in 37 families through the APGAR test, a questionnaire that explores five areas of family function. Statistical analysis and data processing were performed with free software tools and the experiments may be reproduced as the data and code are hosted in open repositories. The results show that the perception of dysfunction at the individual level does not differ from the family perception. The families typically deny the conflict and the implicit changes in the family's functions because they do not know how to handle these changes. Likewise, the study shows that the changes in the family, attributed by several authors to the transition related to the postmodern paradigm, outline a growing trend towards the perception of the dysfunctionality of the family system over time.