family cohesion

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The state of family members staying close, united, and supportive of one another.

   Grammar: Uncountable: say 'family cohesion is strong', not 'a family cohesion'.

   Patterns

   • family cohesion is strong
   • promote family cohesion
   • a sense of family cohesion

   Family cohesion is often strongest when relatives live near each other.

   The community program aims to promote family cohesion among new immigrants.

   Researchers measured family cohesion by asking how often members helped one another.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The degree to which a family acts as one unit and shares values or goals.

   Grammar: Uncountable but can be described with 'high', 'low', or 'strong'.

   Patterns

   • high family cohesion
   • low family cohesion
   • family cohesion among someone

   Studies link high family cohesion with better mental health in teenagers.

   Low family cohesion was one factor in the survey.

Common combinations

strong family cohesion

Strong family cohesion helped them through the crisis.

promote family cohesion

Shared rituals promote family cohesion.

family cohesion among

There is great family cohesion among the siblings.

a sense of family cohesion

Holidays give everyone a sense of family cohesion.

maintain family cohesion

Regular communication helps maintain family cohesion.

Synonyms and how they differ

family unity

Close in meaning, but 'unity' stresses agreement and oneness more than the social closeness of 'cohesion'.

togetherness

Warmer and less technical; it describes the feeling of being close, not a measured social quality.

solidarity

Often used for groups or political movements; it can apply to families but sounds more formal.

Opposites

Word family

cohesion noun

The general state of sticking together as a group.

cohesive adjective

Describing a group that is united and works well together.

cohere verb

To hold together as a whole.

Commonly confused: family cohesion or adhesion?

Practice

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