The author of the article refers to one of the leading approaches to the analysis of the family, namely, from the point of view of the family as a system. The main provisions of this approach are two basic statements: 1) the whole is greater than the sum of its parts 2) all parts and processes of the whole mutually influence and mutually condition each other. The article also publishes the results of a study of the parameters of cohesion and flexibility of family systems in our region, carried out as part of the final qualification work.