Adapting the Family Management Styles Framework to Include Children

Abstract

Empirical study purpose: Propose an adapted Family Management Style Framework that includes the perspectives of children with chronic health conditions.

Design and methods: Building on the current Family Management Style Framework, the authors used recent empirical studies with children to further develop the framework. Definitions of each dimension and component of the framework were reviewed and revised to reflect the perspectives of the child, based on the child data and prior work.

Results: The Family Management Style Framework was adapted to reflect children's perspectives of themselves and their family. Based upon our understanding of the components of the framework, we expanded the components and revised the definitions of the dimensions to reflect the child perspectives.

Conclusions: Incorporating the perspectives of children allows us to consider the transactions that occur during condition management between parents, children and families. Additional research is needed to explore this interaction and the implications it has on the outcomes.

Practice implications: Children experience the way their family manages their chronic health condition and incorporate those experiences as part of their developing understanding of themselves and their condition. Practitioners should encourage children to express their understanding of their condition and its management to model and encourage them to dialogue about management with their families.

Keywords: Childhood; Chronic health conditions; Family management; Theory development.