Family structure and functioning and the implication for child well-being in Albania

In the socio-demographic transitional times, the Albanian family has undergone considerable change in its structure and functioning and during the processes of socialization and interaction (Parson 1956) it is supporting child development and well-being in a different manner (Tushi 2012). The early years are being indicated as crucially important in the trajectory of human development as early life determinants of later development. This paper aims to investigate the implication of family structure and functioning on child well-being through bivariate and multivariate analyses, using nationally representative data from the Albanian Demographic and Health Survey 2008-09. The research is driven by the Capability Approach theory (Sen 1999) applied to measure child well-being in a family context. Family demographics and childrearing relationship are observed through the capabilities of early cognitive stimulation and social integrity. The family structure and attitudes of parents as regard of fertility preference, desired number of children, provision of adequate care to children, have significant effects on advancing the well-being at early ages. The stimulation of cognitive values at young children as well as the parental discipline style ensures the child’s well-being or conducts them to deprivation.