What describes the process of growth and change over the years within a family context?

The process of growth and change over the years within a family context is best described by the family life cycle. This term refers to the stages families go through as they evolve over time, from formation and parenting to eventual transitions such as children growing up and leaving home. The family life cycle encompasses the various developmental milestones and challenges that families face, illustrating how relationships and roles shift in response to changes such as marriage, birth of children, and aging.

In contrast, family development focuses more on the overall progression of family relationships and capacities over time, while family dynamics refers to the interaction patterns among family members. Family structure is concerned with the composition or arrangement of a family at a specific point in time, such as nuclear or extended families, rather than the changes that occur throughout the family's life span. Thus, the concept of the family life cycle is most accurately aligned with the understanding of continuous growth and change in family contexts.