Social cohesion and its threats in the context of long-term family conflicts

Social cohesion represents a fundamental pillar of functional social order, and its erosion at the microlevel of the family system produces cascading consequences that extend beyond the boundaries of the primary group. This paper analyses the mechanisms through which long-term family conflicts threaten social cohesion at the individual, group, and societal levels. Drawing on social cohesion theory, systemic family theory, and developmental psychology, the paper maps the relationship between chronic conflictual in the family environment and disintegration processes in a broader social context. Particular attention is paid to psychosocial mechanisms of transferring conflictual behavioural patterns, the erosion of social capital, and the disruption of interpersonal trust as key dimensions of cohesion. The paper further identifies risk factors that amplify the destabilising potential of family conflicts and outlines implications for intervention practice in the field of psychosocial assistance. Recommendations for prevention and support of social cohesion through targeted work with the family system are formulated in the conclusion.
Keywords: social cohesion; family conflict; psychosocial work; disintegration; social capital;
interpersonal trust; family system; mediation