Family Value Paper

Family is the basic component of society and its values and health is important to the health of society. Without healthy and active family units, society will not have a reliable supply of health and active members. The family is an influence on the health of its members. A family's lifestyle and beliefs affect an individual lifestyles and health maintenance (Weihs, 2002). The family is also the main support system of individuals during a crisis or illness. The nuclear family is not the prevalent family unit and will not allow a true assessment of family health. Systems Theory is a great theory to apply in family nursing since it allows for the assessment of family as part of society and as individual members.

Family and Society

Family and Society are interactive and influence each other in a continuous evolving cycle. According to Friedman, Bowden, and Jones (2003) the purpose of the family unit is to meet society's and each family member's needs. The family provides socialization of its member in order to provided stable productive members for society (Martinson, 1970). In the past society has defined family as a father, mother, and children. Today a family is composed of many different members in various combinations such as: the nuclear family, extended family, two earner households, single parents, step families, childless, and domestic partners. The society of today has also changed in influenced the family composition including rising cost of living, technological progress, growth of the population, increased aging population, and the composition of society. Many of these changes to family and society can be associated with each other such as a rise in the cost of living and a decrease in family size (Friedman, Bowden, & Jones, 2003). Systems Theory is an example of how individuals, family, and society interact and affect each other as components of a system.

Family Health System

According to Friedman, Bowden, & Jones (2003, p. 4) ". . . the health of family members and the quality of family life are closely related." Families are the support systems for individual members and provide support during crisis and illness. Families influence risk taking behaviors, health attitudes, and are effected by chronic health problems of its members. It is the family that forms an individual's concept of illness and health. Family concepts of health and wellness affect health seeking activities of its members. The health problems of one family member spread out and affect the family through stress and influences how a family perceives illness and health care.

Family Concept

The nuclear family is still seen as the primary family unit in emergency nursing. In today's society, the nuclear family is no longer the standard. Today, family has a variety of components such as single parent households and same sex partners. Family nursing centered on a nuclear family assessment and interventions will not assess or address issues that are relevant in today's society. One example is the assessment of support systems and the isolation that may be a main concern in single parent or same sex partner household. These family units are subject to discrimination from society and their own family members which may lead to feelings of isolation and seeking of support