Future Directions in Communication Research: Individual Health Behaviors and the Influence of Family Communication

Abstract

Although numerous fields continue to advance research toward various areas of health prevention, communication researchers have yet to examine fully the link between communication and health improvement. This is particularly true of those studying the intersections of family and health communication—unfortunate, given that family members serve as primary socialization agents in health attitudes and behaviors. Using the example of obesity-related health behaviors, the following essay advances the argument that continued research aimed at understanding the intersection of health and families’ communicative influence may help to illuminate the nature, causes, and redress to health issues that are correlated with individual health practices. This is accomplished by (a) reviewing contributions and limitations of pioneering studies in (family) health literature and (b) offering three key research areas for health communication exploration that will move scholars toward communication-based solutions (e.g., family-level communication health interventions).

Notes

¹ Interestingly, alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Healthy People 2020 (2010) key topic areas of “Nutrition and weight status” and “Physical activity” is “Health communication.”

² The characterization of the obesity epidemic as solely an individual’s concern is contentious at best (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013); however, individual practices are correlated with health in relation to metabolic syndrome disorders, such as those associated with obesity (Crawford, 1980). Thus, it is important to assess factors that influence these individual behaviors (such as family communication).

³ I would direct scholars interested in mixed methods toward the work of Morgan (1998), whose combined-method designs for health research allow scholars flexibility in determining primary and secondary methods.