What changes in family status are necessary for developmental changes in an adolescent to occur?

The correct answer focuses on the need for a family to refocus on midlife material and career issues as a critical requirement for adolescent development. This stage in a family’s life cycle typically involves parents managing their careers while navigating the changes that come with having adolescents in the family. As adolescents begin to assert their independence and navigate their own developmental tasks, it is essential for parents to be engaged in their own career and material responsibilities, which allows for a dynamic familial environment that fosters growth.

Engaging with midlife challenges helps parents model resilience and provide a framework for adolescents to develop their own identities. It’s during this period that parents can also reassess their roles and transitions within the family structure, ensuring that their focus supports the adolescents’ journey toward independence.

While the other options reflect important aspects of family dynamics and development, they do not directly address the necessary changes in family status that catalyze adolescent growth. For instance, adjusting the marital system pertains to the earlier stages of family development, and establishing adolescents in work can come later in their development. Similarly, permitting movement in and out of the family system speaks to autonomy—while it is significant, it may not constitute a fundamental change in family status necessary for development.