Characteristics of communication within family subsystems

Extent of emotional (affective) messages and how expressed Characteristics of

communication within family subsystems Extent of congruent and incongruent messages
Types of dysfunctional communication processes seen in family Areas of open and

closed communication
Familial and contextual variables affecting communication

19. Power structure Power outcomes

Decision-making process
Power bases
Variables affecting family power
Overall family system and subsystem power (Family power continuum placement)

20. Role structure
Formal role structure
Informal role structure
Analysis of role models (optional) Variables affecting role structure

21. Family values
Compare the family to American or family’s reference group values and/or identify

important family values and their importance (priority) in family.
Congruence between the family’s values and the family’s reference group or wider

community

Congruence between the family’s values and family member’s values Variables

influencing family values
Values consciously or unconsciously held
Presence of value conflicts in family

Effect of the above values and value conflicts on health status of family

Family Functions

22. Affective function
Family’s need–response patterns
Mutual nurturance, closeness, and identification Separateness and connectedness

23. Socialization function
Family child-rearing practices
Adaptability of child-rearing practices for family form and family’s situation
Who is (are) socializing agent(s) for child(ren)?
Value of children in family
Cultural beliefs that influence family’s child-rearing patterns
Social class influence on child-rearing patterns
Estimation about whether family is at risk for child-rearing problems and if so, indication

of high risk factors
Adequacy of home environment for children’s need to play

24. Health care function
Family’s health beliefs, values, and behavior
Family’s definitions of health–illness and their level of knowledge Family’s perceived

health status and illness susceptibility
Family’s dietary practices
Adequacy of family diet (recommended 3-day food history record) Function of mealtimes

and attitudes toward food and mealtimes Shopping (and its planning) practices
Person(s) responsible for planning, shopping, and preparation of meals Sleep and rest

habits
Physical activity and recreation practices (not covered earlier)
Family’s drug habits
Family’s role in self-care practices
Medically based preventive measures (physicals, eye and hearing
tests, and immunizations)
Dental health practices
Family health history (both general and specific diseases— environmentally and

genetically related)
Health care services received
Feelings and perceptions regarding health services
Emergency health services
Source of payments for health and other services
Logistics of receiving care

Family Stress and Coping

25. Short- and long-term familial stressors and strengths

26. Extent of family’s ability to respond, based on objective

appraisal of stress-producing situations

Coping strategies utilized (present/past)

Differences in family members’ ways of coping Family’s inner coping strategies
Family’s external coping strategies

Dysfunctional adaptive strategies utilized (present/past; extent of usage)

Name (last, first)

1. (Father)

2. (Mother)

3. (Oldest child)

4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Friedman, M. M., Bowden, V. R., & Jones, E. G. (2003). Family nursing: Research,

theory and practice (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall/Pearson Education.

Structure & Function—Family Theory/Friedman (2003):

STRUCTURE: Refers to how family is organized, and how they relate to each other & to the whole. Four interactive & interrelated dimensions:

1. Role systems

2. Value Systems

3. Communication networks

4. Power Structure

FUNCTION: Refers to how families go about meeting needs of individuals and broader society. Family functions are what a family does. Five family function dimensions:

1. Affective

2. Socialization

3. Reproductive

4. Health care

5. Economic

Additionally…. How a family deals with stress, coping, adaptation, and SPIRITUALITY are all important in our assessments of families.