Studies of health promotion in families are a critical part of an increasing recognition of the role which families play in the health their members. In the few existing studies addressing family health promotion, the emphasis has been on family problems and weaknesses. Although the World Health Organization describes health promotion as the process of enabling people to assume control over their own health, the thrust of work in the area has been almost exclusively on the prevention of disease through lifestyle change.

The Family Health Promotion Research Program (FHPRP) embraces the theme of empowerment. Consistent with this perspective, we view family health promotion as a process undertaken by the family to sustain or enhance the emotional, social, and physical well-being of the family group and its members. This orientation focuses on the strength and potential for growth within families and recognizes the ways in which social and political realities may restrict choices for healthy living. We are concerned with better understanding how families and their members work together to realize their full potential for health and development. With this basis, effective strategies can be identified to assist families in developing behaviours and beliefs necessary for healthy living.The social significance of fostering the development of healthier families may ultimately be realized in savings both in economic and human terms by improving the quality of family life for Canadians.

Program Objectives

1. to identify physical, social and environmental factors that foster participation in health promotion in families:

a) with diverse characteristics e.g. differing family structures, ethnic backgrounds, developmental stages and histories, etc

b) experiencing both normative (e.g. childbirth, parenting, aging) and unexpected health events (e.g. chronic illness, violence, caregiving).

2. to develop and test cost-effective nursing interventions aimed at building the capabilities needed for sustaining or enhancing the well-being of individual members and family groups

Research Foci
Two overlapping streams of study related to childbearing families are in progress:

1. Health Promotion Processes of Single-Parent Families (led by Dr. Marilyn Ford-Gilboe)
2. Health Promotion for Child Witnesses of Violence (led by Dr. Helene Berman)

Since 1996, both investigators have been supported by fellowships provided by MRC/NHRDP Joint Program for the Development of Research in Nursing.