In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

“Dysfunctional family” is a common term these days. Psychology Dictionary defines that term as “a family showing impaired communication and relationships where members are unable to get close.” There may be a tendency to think of such a family as including divorced parents, alcohol or some other substance abuse, and/or moral failure. But by definition, a family may be dysfunctional where none of these components exist. It just means that a family is not close enough to communicate or feel connected on a meaningful level. God created the family to be a tightly knit unit where life's deepest emotional needs could be met. Yet many Christian families fail to operate with this degree of intimacy among its members: Obedience is compelled but not inspired; respect is demanded, but loving consideration is not shown; love is based upon things given instead of communication shared. To get back to God's intention for the family, the Christian home should follow God's relational principles.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 52.