1. Chapter 18 Theoretical Bases for Promoting Family Health

2. Definitions of Family Vary by organization, discipline, and individual
Most theorists agree that definition of a family includes:
Two or more individuals who share a residence or live near one another
Possess some common emotional bond
Engage in interrelated social positions, roles, and tasks
Share a sense of affection and belonging

3. Universal Characteristics of Families
Every family is a small social system.
Every family has its own cultural values and rules.
Every family has structure.
Every family has certain basic functions.
Every family moves through stages in its life cycle.

4. Attributes of Families as Social Systems
Families are interdependent.
Families maintain boundaries.
Families exchange energy with their environments.
Families are adaptive.
Families are goal-oriented.

5. Question Is the following statement true or false?
The definition of a family is universal.

6. Answer
False
The family is defined in many different ways depending on the organization, discipline, or individual.

7. Family Culture
Definition: The acquired knowledge that family members use to interpret their experiences and to generate behaviors that influence family structure and function
Family members share certain values that affect family behavior.
Certain roles are prescribed and defined for family members.
A family’s culture determines its distribution and use of power.

8. Family Structures Dramatic changes in structure
Decrease in number of marriages
Increase in non-married couples living together
Divorce rates
Increase in births outside marriage
Husband, wife, and children living together
Two general categories (see Table 18.1)
Traditional
Contemporary

9. Traditional Family Structures
Nuclear family
Nuclear-dyad family
Single-adult family
Multigenerational families
Kin-network
Augmented family
Blended family
Single-parent
Commuter

10. Contemporary Family Structures
Unmarried single-parent family
Cohabitating partners
Commune family
Group marriage
Group network
Homeless family
Foster families
Gangs

11. Question
Which of the following would a community health nurse identify as a traditional family structure?
Commune family
Foster family
Commuter family
Homeless family

12. Answer c. Commuter family
A commuter family is an example of a traditional family structure. Commune, foster, and homeless families are examples of nontraditional or contemporary family structures.

13. Family Functions Providing affection Providing security and acceptance
Instilling identity and satisfaction
Promoting affiliation and companionship
Providing socialization
Establishing controls

14. Family Developmental Tasks
Life cycle progression depends on developmental tasks; ongoing throughout life cycle
Establishing a mutually satisfying relationship
Adjusting to pregnancy and parenthood
Fitting into kin network
Adapting to critical needs of children at all stages
Fitting into the community
Balancing freedom with responsibility
Releasing young adults into work
Adjusting to retirement (see Table 18.2)

15. Family Life Cycle Two broad stages Expansion Adding new members
Increase in relationships
Contraction
Members leave
Starting own lives or dying
More specific phases within each stage (e.g., launching of children, retirement of parents)

16. Emerging Family Patterns
Adolescent unmarried parents
Gay and lesbian families
Divorced and blended families
Older adults

17. Question Is the following statement true or false?
Developmental tasks of the family are important but not crucial to the family’s progression through the life cycle.

18. Answer
False
Progression through the life cycle depends on the achievement of developmental tasks, which are ongoing throughout the life cycle.

19. Internet Resources
Family Health International:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Family Health):
National Institutes of Health – Adventures in Parenting: _parenting/index.cfm
National Alliance to End Homelessness: usareas/families