Exploring families’ experiences of health: contributions to a model of family health

Abstract

Child health and developmental outcomes are influenced by the health of the family and the context created. Research suggests symptoms of poor family health (e.g. suboptimal family interactions, parenting stress) yet there is limited understanding of the factors which contribute to robust family health which may unveil opportunities for targeted intervention and family health promotion. The present study examined families' experiences of family health and factors contributing to family health. We performed a qualitative study using constructivist grounded theory methods to guide our understanding of family health for families with typically developing children aged 5-18. Interviews were conducted in family homes and all members were invited to participate. Data from interviews were transcribed, coded, thematically analyzed, and verified with select families. Ten families, including 10 mothers, 8 fathers, and 15 children participated in the study. Participants described family health as a process of balance, living purposefully, and sharing experiences together in alignment with family identity. Mediating family health were processes of awareness and reflection, and adapting, adjusting, and changing in response to family life including external stress factors. Results highlight the possibility for healthcare practitioners to facilitate families' self-reflection and awareness about their health in order to mediate family health development.

Family-Centered Health Promotion: Perspectives for Engaging Families and Achieving Better Health Outcomes

“…14 The family's capacity to nurture, care, protect, teach, and influence throughout the life course makes it an effective entry point in the promotion and maintenance of individual and collective health and an important component for public health practice. 2,[15][16][17] Recent demographic shifts (e.g., a growing proportion of the population being older adults, an increasing number of multigenerational families, and more people living alone) necessitate a critical shift from a traditional public health focus on mothers and children to the larger context of the family. [18][19][20] This shift is imperative because nearly all individuals are nested within families where each member is connected to and influenced by one another, as described by the family systems theory.…”

Exploring the health of families with a child with autism

“…For those who did, researchers ensured family members participated in a conversation about the family unit as a whole and, in consideration of ethical boundaries, did not discuss characteristics of or concerns about individual family members. Interviews followed a semi-structured format with questions about the family as a unit that were intentionally designed to encourage open-ended reflective answers about families lived experiences and based on previous family health research (See Appendix I for interview questions; Smith et al, 2017). Prior to commencing all interviews, researchers journaled their thoughts and feelings about what it meant to be a family of a child with autism, and how families might experience health in order to surface researcher assumptions.…”

“…Smith and colleagues (2017) expanded upon these definitions by identifying the specific factors and mediating processes that support robust family health. Factors include balance within schedules and member time for self and whole family, togetherness for promoting connection among the family, and purposeful living including deliberateness and intention around family decision-making and enacted everyday routines (Smith et al, 2017). Processes mediating robust family health include family awareness and reflection about their health as well as family adaptation through problemsolving and communication.…”

Efecto Del Contexto, Rutinas Y Funcionamiento en La Salud De Familias Mexicanas Con Diabetes Tipo 2

“…Si se menciona que dentro del contexto se ubican las condiciones sociales, económicas y culturales que determinan el diagnóstico médico, el tratamiento, la evolución, la presencia o ausencia de complicaciones micro y macrovasculares derivadas de DM2, se puede concluir que el contexto familiar es uno de los componentes más importantes del MSF y ante la presencia de DM2 en un integrante del núcleo familiar, debe ser siempre abordado por un profesional de enfermería. Este estudio reveló que la salud familiar se explica y relaciona ampliamente por el funcionamiento y las rutinas familiares en salud, coincidiendo con los hallazgos reportados por otros autores (10,14,(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) y por lo planteado en los postulados del MSF, dado que la salud familiar se considera el componente central de este y entendida desde una perspectiva de bienestar. La familia es el lugar primario a partir del cual la salud se puede desarrollar; es allí donde se aprende, se vive, se experimenta y se responde a la enfermedad, por tal motivo, la salud familiar es un constructo complejo, abstracto que incluye el contexto, el funcionamiento y rutinas familiares; estas tres variables in uyen e interactúan mutuamente entre ellas (7,8,16,17,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) .…”