Understanding Family Communication & Well-Being

Question 1

What is your definition of family?

Question 2

Why did you define family that way?

Question 3

How does your definition of family connect to the three conceptual lenses discussed in Floyd et al.?

Question 4

Name the three conceptual lenses for defining family relationships.

Answer 4

1. Role Lens
2. Socialegal Lens
3. Biogenetic Lens

Question 5

Explain the three conceptual lenses for defining family relationships and their pros and cons.

Answer 5

1. Role Lens: based on emotional attachment & patterns of interaction; constructed through COM
   - Pros: if you don’t have a biological family, then you can co-construct one through COM
   - Cons: too open & broad for little to no familial tensions
2. Socialegal Lens: legally sanctioned status (recognition) of familial relationships
   - Pros: easy to define; you’re either family or not; objective
   - Cons: limiting & legally sanctioned
3. Biogenetic Lens: shared genes and/or reproductive potential
   - Pros: simple to classify
   - Cons: narrows the definition of family, excluding the role and socialegal aspects of family

Question 6

Apply the three conceptual lenses for defining family relationships and how they relate to family communication about health (e.g., personal experiences, examples in the chapter, and media stories).

Answer 6

1. Role Lens
2. Socialegal Lens
3. Biogenetic Lens

Question 7

Explain how family COM is interrelated to well-being.

Answer 7

Family COM is interrelated with well-being by actively engaging in COM, problem-solving, and structured enrichment programs to improve one’s relational health & overall well-being
- EX: money & finance stress increases family/personal stress

Question 8

According to Galvin (2015), what does communication in a well-functioning family look like?
- What are “trouble spots” in your own family’s communication or interactions when discussing well-being (i.e., family members’ quality of life)?

Answer 8

A well-fuctioning family has active & intentional COM that fosters open dialogue about health, finances, & relationships. It requires openness & adaptability in navigating life’s challenges; being able to have active & productive conflict.
- Some trouble spots in my family’s COM is a lack of understanding (COM & information) about mental health issues.

Question 9

What approaches did Galvin (2015) suggest to improve family communication (personal and instructional)?

Question 10

What is Sound Martial House Theory?

Question 11

Define Reactors

Answer 11

individuals who take no responsibility for their part in a problem or to change relationships

Question 12

Define Actors

Answer 12

Individuals believing they can make personal changes and co-create desirable relational changes

Question 13

Explain a few main elements in the vision board you created and how it connects to COM 364 thus far (e.g., wellness realms, definition of family, health-related topics and communication).

Question 14

According to Yoshimura’s chapter “Family COM as Health” (2023), how has family communication been recognized in the mental and physical health contexts? (Know each major perspective/time frame)

Answer 14

1. Indigenous Perspective: social & holistic view of care; community-centered
2. Early Colonialism: home-centered health; mental health disorders seen with pity/distrust; community & religious leaders heavily influenced what family & health meant
3. Rise of Industrialization (end of 19th century): outside-the-home medical practices; families sought formalized diagnosis & treatment outside of family/home
4. 1970s - Present: introduction of Biopsychosocial model of health; positive & negative family COM was linked to mental & physical health; more research on family COM & health

Question 15

According to Fitzpatrick’s chapter, “Family COM as Relationships” (2023), explain and provide examples for each of the three definitions of the family:
a) family structure
b) family functions/tasks
c) transactional processes

• How do you see these definitions or frameworks of family in your own family?

Answer 15

1. Family Structure: clear criteria for membership in family; hierarchies; spousal roles, companionship, & more COM
2. Family functions/tasks: focus on family as a “small group”; these functions/tasks of family life are performed, to care and nurture children
3. Transactional processes: Family COM as relationships; rules for love, sharing, intimacy, & privacy are established, developed & changed between individuals