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.

Keywords:

• Family health
• child health

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted in partial fulfillment for the first author’s doctoral degree in rehabilitation science from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The first author would like to thank the rehabilitation science faculty for their unwavering support and guidance. The authors are grateful to the family participants who graciously participated in this research by giving of their time and personal stories. Portions of this article were presented at the 2016 Annual Conference and Expo of the American Occupational Therapy Association in Chicago, Illinois.