Families That Do Well: Lay Conceptualizations of Well‐Functioning, Healthy, Strong, and Good Families

Abstract

Objective To explore laypeople's conceptualization of terms that refer to families that do well and how social‐contextual factors shape these conceptualizations. Background Although there is abundant academic and popular literature about families that do well, little research has explored lay conceptualizations. Our focus responds to critiques of top‐down approaches that minimize the value of family members' knowledge. Method A socioeconomically diverse sample of 34 adults was asked to describe well‐functioning families, healthy families, strong families, and good families. Data analysis for this critical ethnographic study involved thematic content analysis and exploration of participants' conceptualizations in relation to social‐contextual influences. Results Participants' descriptions revealed three categories of attributes of families that do well: functional–instrumental characteristics, interpersonal relationships, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Analysis of social‐contextual influences revealed limited variation within and across thematic categories of attributes of families that do well. Conclusion This study contributes to evidence showing considerable, but not complete, alignment between laypeople's understandings of families that do well and scholars' and professionals' ideas. Laypeople have some of their own ideas about families that do well. Implications Our study highlights laypeople's perspectives as legitimate knowledge with implications for services, programs, and policies that support families to “do well.”