The Role of the Family in Adult Chronic Illness: A Review of the Literature on Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Understanding the psychological factors that affect the management of chronic illness includes the choices people make about their illness and the demand characteristics of their environment. Family members of those with chronic illness are not routinely included in the management of the illness. This review takes diabetes as an example and argues that the family is important in illness management and shows why. We examine reasons for their exclusion from research and discuss the impact this has on the development of interventions that have focused solely on the person with the illness and often failed to place that person in the wider family, community and social context. Finally, future considerations, such as patient confidentiality and the potential impact on sick role behaviour, are discussed.