Strengthening Connections with Family for a Thriving Future
Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.”
– Anthony Brandt
Family is a Central Part of Life
In a polarized society, the idea that family is central to our lives and who we are is a sentiment that connects most of us. The Pew Research Center found that 73 percent of adults in the United States ate spending time with family as one of the most essential things in their lives. They ranked this amongst other aspects of life, such as practicing religious faith, being physically active, being successful in your career, and being involved with your community. Family is defined as individuals, born into or chosen, that support one another; the Pew Research Center recognizes the many different forms families are created and exist in, which is included in the research definition of ‘family.’
A different Pew Research Center survey found about 3-in-10 individuals in the United States live within an hour of all or most of their extended family. Many individuals feel living close to their families is essential for their overall satisfaction with their lives. Another notable finding is that both political parties can agree on the family’s instrumental role in individual well-being and quality of life. Within these statistics is the common, enduring idea that family is a central pillar of life, backed up by ample research.
Family is a protective factor. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines a protective factor as a characteristic that may decrease the likelihood of experiencing adverse childhood experiences. They further this idea by saying, “Families who create safe, stable, and nurturing relationships, meaning children have a consistent family life where they are safe, taken care of, and supported,” are more likely to have more desirable health outcomes and life experiences.
According to a research article posted in the Mental Health & Prevention Journal, connected families are linked to lower rates of anxiety and depression over the lifespan, as well as higher self-esteem, self-compassion, and stronger resilience. Resilience is a key benefit of strong family relationships, as it describes one’s ability to bounce back from challenges in life. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services explains how resilient people are more likely to be able to tap into their strengths and support systems when faced with adversity, granting them the best chance to overcome challenges and problem-solve. In terms of families, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network describes how family resilience is the ability to adapt to significant disruptions in life, whether it be a natural disaster, political environment, family income changes, or school problems.
Strong family bonds are a significant contributing factor to long-term individual well-being. In other words, family acts as a powerful protective factor. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines protective factors as “characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact.” Supportive families can improve individuals’ physical, mental, social, and spiritual health well into adulthood. The Parent-Infant Foundation describes the monumental impact early relationships, specifically relationships with family, have on the lifespan of a child:
“Healthy relationships enable children to develop the capacities they need to participate in society and to lead happy and fulfilling lives. A child’s experience of being parented also influences how they go on to parent their own children; supporting babies’ brain development pays dividends for generations to come.”
Family Supports Mental Health
In terms of mental health, the National Institutes of Health explains how nurturing relationships with family members protects children against extreme stress by giving them a healthy stress response system. For example, Psychology Today highlights some of the positive effects a healthy family life can have on anxiety and depressive symptoms. Strong family cohesion is connected to lower levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents, with overall reported levels of depressive symptoms being lower through ages 12 to 42. Overall, adults who had positive relationships with parents and caregivers during childhood are linked to lower levels of mental illness.
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Family Supports Physical Health
Child Focus: Strong Families, Thriving Communities speaks to how having family support is connected to a better immune system and quicker recovery from illnesses. Families also have a strong influence on health behaviors like exercise, diet, nutrition, and substance use. The Pediatrics Journal addresses how families that eat meals together have children who are approximately 25 percent less likely to have nutritional health issues. Additionally, social support from family provides members with the help they need to follow treatment plans when it comes to illness. For example, one study found that patients diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to commit to their treatment plans when they had social support from their family members. Overall, strong family bonds can help improve individuals’ physical well-being.
Family Supports Learning and Success
The Parent-Infant Foundation explains how early relationships influence how children learn to regulate their emotions and control their impulses. When children have a strong example for positive relationships from their parents, they are able to control their emotions and behaviors and maximize their potential to learn. Researchers have found parental involvement in the educational process is one of the key factors, surpassing socioeconomic status and student background, for a child’s academic success, which the Annie E. Casey Foundation discusses. Positive family relationships are linked to students’ attendance and behavior, grades, and social skills. These factors can contribute to children’s long-term academic and eventual financial success.
Families are the foundation for who we are and how we navigate this world. To build a strong society, we must start by building strong families. Building safe nurturing environments where children grow into thriving adults is a goal that families and communities can share. Establishing a unified family dynamic requires time, effort, and commitment and can sometimes be daunting. Like most feats, progress starts with small steps. These small steps, when taken consistently, can lead to significant changes in your family dynamics. Below, we outline an activity for families to utilize to build more resilient, close-knit family bonds.
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Activity to Bring Your Family Closer
With the new year right around the corner, the end of the year is a time for reflection on the past year and deliberation on what the next year holds. Many people start creating individual New Year’s Resolutions or vision boards, capturing their intentions for what they want to accomplish over the coming year. Instead, what if you created a family vision board?
Suppose you put aside 20-30 minutes to create intentional time as a family to prioritize talking about what went well and what didn’t go so well, individuals and a family unit, and what you want to focus on improving. Brisbane Kids describes how family vision boarding is an effective way for families to come together and collaborate through a common vision. Apeejay Newsroom outlines how vision boarding is also a powerful tool for teaching kids about setting intentions, manifesting dreams, and fostering visualization, all while strengthening family bonds by giving space for family members to share aspirations and communicate. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation provides some prompting questions for how to start the vision boarding process, including:
- We are grateful for…
- Something we will do to be healthy…
- Our goals this year…
- We will support each other by…
This activity also has room for creativity. You can create a family motto for the new year, make a family logo, work with fun magazine cutouts, and draw pictures to represent the ideas. After establishing common goals, you can talk about what that will look like throughout the year and set progress check-ins. The Journal for Kids blog offers a comprehensive guide on how to facilitate making a vision board as a family.
Some examples of what your Family Vision Board may look like are below:
While it is not the ultimate answer for developing family unity, vision boarding is a productive step in establishing rapport and shared purpose through common goals. We encourage you to try this activity with your family and tag the Institute for Family on LinkedIn or Facebook; we would love to see what your family is envisioning and working towards in the New Year.
Families are the cornerstone of our well-being, shaping how we all grow. Small, intentional steps, like creating a family vision board, can work towards building lasting connections and creating stronger families. Strengthening families helps us strengthen communities for generations to come.
Resources
Below are some resources that can optimize the experience of a family vision board, including how to create attainable goals and prompting questions:
Creating Goals
- Improve family relationships by setting family goals
- How to set family goals (and why they’re important)
- SMART Goals for Kids Video
- SMART Goals- Quick Overview Video
- SMART Goals Guiding Worksheet
Prompting Questions
- Discussion Starters for Families
- 21 Vision Board Questions for Kids
- A Step-By-Step Guide to Vision Boards for Kids
If you have any questions or comments about the content in this Lightbulb Moment article, please get in touch with our Research Lead, Madeline Attianese, at mattianese@chsnc.org.