What is a common characteristic of clients from dysfunctional families?

Clients from dysfunctional families often display unhealthy personal boundaries, which is a common characteristic. In such environments, individuals might struggle with distinguishing between their own feelings and those of others, leading to difficulties in establishing and maintaining appropriate personal limits. This can manifest in various ways, such as either overly rigid boundaries where the person is unable to connect with others, or overly permeable boundaries where the individual may feel overly responsible for others' emotions and issues.

In contrast to this, options like excessive emotional support and consistent discipline from parents are typically not present in dysfunctional family contexts. High self-esteem is also less common, as the lack of support and nurturing can lead to various emotional challenges and lower self-worth in individuals from these backgrounds. These dynamics significantly affect the mental health and interpersonal relationships of clients, making the understanding of boundary issues critical in psychiatric nursing practice.