Family Health Development: A Theoretical Framework

Overview

Journal Pediatrics

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2022 May 3

PMID 35503316

Authors

Mark Feinberg

Emily Hotez

Kevin Roy

Christy J W Ledford

Amy B Lewin

Norma Perez-Brena

Saltanat Childress

Jerica M Berge

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In recognition of the family as central to health, the concept of family, rather than individual, health has been an important area of research and, increasingly, clinical practice. There is a need to leverage existing theories of family health to align with our evolving understanding of Life Course Health Development, including the opportunities and constraints of the family context for promoting lifelong individual and population health. The purpose of this article is to propose an integrative model of family health development within a Life Course Health Development lens to facilitate conceptualization, research, and clinical practice. This model provides an organizing heuristic model for understanding the dynamic interactions between family structures, processes, cognitions, and behaviors across development. Potential applications of this model are discussed.

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