scholarly journals Family functioning and stroke: Family members’ perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibulelo Gawulayo ◽  
Charlene J. Erasmus ◽  
Anthea J. Rhoda

Background: Stroke survivors often experience permanent or temporal physical and psychological stroke impairments. As a result, stroke survivors are often discharged to recover in their home environments and are cared for mostly by family members. Additionally, caregiving roles are often assumed without any formal training or preparation whatsoever. This can transform the family’s functional patterns due to adjustments that are made to accommodate the caregiving needs.Objectives: To explore the experiences and influence of stroke on families and on family functioning.Method: Explorative descriptive qualitative research design through the use of in-depth interviews were employed as the means of data collection. The sample size was eight (8) family members and was guided by the saturation point. Data was thematically analysed.Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis: 1) reduced interactions with family members due to communication barriers, 2) the influence of stroke on family relationships, 3) emotional engagement in caring for a family member with a stroke and 4) financial implications of stroke on family functioning. This study found that stroke can influence the family functioning negatively as family members may be forced to change their functional patterns. However, some family members reported positive experiences, they developed a supportive structure to accommodate the new life of the stroke survivor.Conclusion: Using the McMaster’s model of family functioning, this study found that stroke is a threat to the six dimensions of family functioning: 1) problem-solving, 2) communication, 3) roles, 4) affective responsiveness, 5) affective involvement, and 6) behaviour control.

Religions ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dollahite ◽  
Loren Marks ◽  
Kate Babcock ◽  
Betsy Barrow ◽  
Andrew Rose

Research has found that intergenerational transmission of religiosity results in higher family functioning and improved family relationships. Yet the Pew Research Center found that 44% of Americans reported that they had left the religious affiliation of their childhood. And 78% of the expanding group of those who identify as religiously unaffiliated (“Nones”) reported that they were raised in “highly religious families.” We suggest that this may be, in part, associated with religious parents exercising excessive firmness with inadequate flexibility (rigidity). We used a multiphase, systematic, team-based process to code 8000+ pages of in-depth interviews from 198 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families from 17 states in all 8 major religio-cultural regions of the United States. We framed firmness as mainly about loyalty to God and God’s purposes, and flexibility as mainly about loyalty to family members and their needs and circumstances. The reported findings provided a range of examples illustrating (a) religious firmness, (b) religious flexibility, as well as (c) efforts to balance and combine firmness and flexibility. We discuss conceptual and practical implications of treating firmness and flexibility as complementary loyalties in intergenerational faith transmission.


2020 ◽  
pp. 219-234
Author(s):  
Johnna Christian

Research about prisoner reentry has identified an assortment of needs for formerly incarcerated men. In addition to concerns such as finding employment, securing housing, and complying with supervision requirements, they must navigate family relationships that may have been strained prior to incarceration, and are further challenged by the separation imposed by confinement. Paradoxically, these family relationships that pose challenges also hold great promise to mitigate some of the other hardships posed by reintegration. Family members often provide support and assistance that is not readily available through other channels: a place to sleep, transportation, job leads, meals, and encouragement. Yet, the provision and receipt of instrumental and emotional support requires substantial negotiation of fluid and shifting relationship dynamics. Emotional attachments therefore become entangled with instrumental needs, the availability of specific resources, and willingness to share these resources. Through analysis of in-depth interviews with formerly incarcerated men in an urban Northeastern city, this chapter examines how they identify potential avenues of familial support, how they balance and maximize resources gained from family members, and how they manage strains in family relationships. Research and policy implications for understanding both the benefits and limitations of family support for formerly incarcerated men are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leone Mendes Dias ◽  
Marcelo da Silva Alves ◽  
Maria Odete Pereira ◽  
Laércio Deleon de Melo ◽  
Camila Cristina Gregório de Assis ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objectives: to reflect on the daily life of family members dependent on psychoactive substances and the role of health professionals in Primary Care. Methods: a descriptive investigation outlined in Maffesoli’s phenomenological approach, carried out at a Basic Health Unit in Minas Gerais with eight family members dependent on psychoactive substances. Sociodemographic characterization data and in-depth interviews were collected and analyzed with support of NVivo Pro11® software. All ethical and legal aspects were met. Results: physicians were the professionals most mentioned in participants’ statements, who took on a dubious role with other health professionals: welcoming (positive perceptions about care received) and neglect (negative perceptions). Final Considerations: dependence on psychoactive substances imposes a burden on persons, their family members and health professionals. The role of establishing good relationships in the triad professionals-users-family members of primary care is inseparable in favor of treatment and preservation of their mental health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 770-771
Author(s):  
Athena Chung Yin Chan ◽  
Marlene Stum

Abstract Millions of families are affected by elder family financial exploitation (EFFE), but the consequences for lifelong intergenerational family relationships and family functioning remain largely unexamined (i.e., parent/child, siblings). This study examines the consequences of experiencing EFFE on the quality of family relationships from the perspective of non-victim, non-perpetrator concerned family members (CFMs). Data from a larger EFFE mixed-methods study were utilized. A voluntary sample of 28 CFMs who had experienced EFFE participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews and brief surveys. Analysis included identifying quality of family relationship themes from data related to differences EFFE has made in their family. Participating CFMs were primarily adult children of older victims, and siblings of the primary perpetrators. The findings reflect three patterns of changes in quality of family relationships between the CFMs and other family members, including: (a) Restoring trust and recovery within the family, (b) Alliances and taking sides, and (c) Estrangement and cutoff. While families were never the same after experiencing the exploitation, for some was a healing process to accept the family situation and restore and repair trust. Redefining who would be family moving forward was a focus for some families when perpetrators and CFMs took sides and formed allies with others. In the most dramatic changes, siblings, parents and others became cutoff and isolated from other family members. While a loss of relationship quality was common, strengthening of relationships also occurred. Understanding EFFE from an ecological family systems perspective can help to inform needed EFFE interventions, both processes and outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-272
Author(s):  
Azian Muhamad Adzmi ◽  
◽  
Liyana Mohd Ramly ◽  
Syahida Mohd Nazri ◽  
Nik Fatinah N. Mohd Farid ◽  
...  

WhatsApp has become a major necessity in modern communication both individually and as a group. During an unprecedented time like COVID-19 pandemic, it increased the utilization of social media among society and has developed new norms among its users, especially grandparents. This study emphasises the various real-life activities undertaken by grandparents in social media and detailed research regarding the various WhatsApp administrators in a group chat. A qualitative research approach consisting of in-depth interviews have been carried out among family members in order to gather all the information-involving informants. In addition, it aims to gain a broader perspective of the informants' view regarding their grandparents becoming the administrator of a family WhatsApp group. Results of this study revealed that family relationships became strengthened between grandparents and other family members, especially with their grandchildren. Secondly, grandparents started being obsessed with WhatsApp, they are keen to learn more and are even able to keep up with the latest technology. Finally, the topics discussed in the family WhatsApp group covers current issues such as politics, religious advice, and sometimes entertainment. Generally, this study is expected to contribute to the communication studies and social media field, specifically understanding the use of social media between two different generations that are keen to keep up to date with the current technology especially during the unprecedented time. Keywords: WhatsApp, grandparents, pandemic, new norms, social media.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Patford

Clinical commentaries and research studies have described the effects of problem gambling on families, but they have usually focused on immediate rather than extended family members. To offset this bias, the present study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the various ways in which parents and parents-in-law experience and understand adult children's gambling problems. Thirteen parents and two parents-in-law volunteered to participate in the study. Their experiences and perspectives were explored through in-depth interviews, emails and telephone discussions. Findings from the study indicate that the repercussions of an adult child's gambling may damage parents and parents-in-law financially, complicate their family relationships and erode their health and wellbeing. Implications for formal service provision are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramatsobane Granny Lekoadi ◽  
Mmasethunya Annie Temane ◽  
Marie Poggenpoel ◽  
Chris Myburgh

Globally, around a third of the adult population suffers from a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic mental illness which adversely impacts the lives of the affected individuals and their family members. BD has a strong influence on family functioning. The main objective of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of family members who care for individuals living with BD. A qualitative research design, which is exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature, was used in this study. A purposive sample was utilised to select family members who care for individuals living with BD to participate in the study. In-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted to collect data and observations in the form of field notes were documented. The data analysis was done using a thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the analysis of the transcribed in-depth phenomenological interviews, namely caring for an individual living with BD was exhausting, strenuous and a continuous unasked responsibility; family members experienced their own routines being disrupted by the individual living with BD’s unpredictable behaviour and having to accompany them to appointments; family members experienced family relationships as being strained and challenged; and family members experienced the need for assistance to cope with the individuals living with BD. Strategies to facilitate the lived experiences of family members who care for individuals living with BD should be developed. The suggested strategies are facilitation of exploration of challenges by family members, self-empowerment, empowerment in relationships, and empowerment in mobilising resources.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14
Author(s):  
Kathleen Dianne K. Dy ◽  
Consuelo T. Chua

Filipinos are generally observed to display happiness despite the experience of poverty. However, limited researches have been done to support or explain such observation. The purpose of the study was to examine the level of happiness among selected Filipino families who were living below the poverty line. The study also identified the families’ sources of happiness and the actions they take to experience happiness. A qualitative research design was used. Twenty urban poor two-parent families were the subjects of the study. The Family Subjective Happiness Scale was administered to the families to determine their level of happiness. In depth-interviews were used to examine the families' sources of happiness and the actions they take to be happy. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results showed that most of the poor families were either happy or very happy. The primary sources of happiness of the families include good family relationship, family togetherness, having children, faith in God, and good health. On the other hand, learning to be content, finding ways to solve their problems, engaging in leisure activities, and developing optimism were the things that the families do to achieve or experience happiness. Despite being poor, the families were happy mainly because they have close family relationships and are contented with their lives. The study provided valuable contribution to understanding why Filipino families show happiness despite poverty.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110471
Author(s):  
Min Ah Kim ◽  
Jina Sang ◽  
Jaehee Yi ◽  
Jimin Sung ◽  
Whitney Howey

The loss of a child greatly affects the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in bereaved families. This study explored the relationships in bereaved Korean families from the perspectives of mothers after the death of a child due to cancer. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 bereaved mothers of a deceased child with childhood cancer. Thematic analysis identified 12 subthemes related to bereaved mothers’ struggles in grief within three significant themes based on family relationships: (a) relationship with husband; (b) relationship with surviving child or children; and (c) relationships with extended family members. Findings highlight bereaved mothers’ need to build supportive family relationships while acknowledging bereaved family members’ different grieving styles and their own challenges in grieving the loss of a child.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-271
Author(s):  
Pairote Wilainuch

This article explores communicative practices surrounding how nurses, patients and family members engage when talking about death and dying, based on study conducted in a province in northern Thailand. Data were collected from three environments: a district hospital (nine cases), district public health centres (four cases), and in patients’ homes (27 cases). Fourteen nurses, 40 patients and 24 family members gave written consent for participation. Direct observation and in-depth interviews were used for supplementary data collection, and 40 counselling sessions were recorded on video. The raw data were analysed using Conversation Analysis. The study found that Thai counselling is asymmetrical. Nurses initiated the topic of death by referring to the death of a third person – a dead patient – with the use of clues and via list-construction. As most Thai people are oriented to Buddhism, religious support is selected for discussing this sensitive topic, and nurses also use Buddhism and list-construction to help their clients confront uncertain futures. However, Buddhism is not brought into discussion on its own, but combined with other techniques such as the use of euphemisms or concern and care for others.


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