The science of families: Nurturing hope, happiness, and health

Abstract

Objective

Authors explored ways to understand how families and communities remain hopeful, happy, and healthy.

Background

The 2021 National Council on Family Relations annual conference set the groundwork for the special issue, The Science of Families: Nurturing Hope, Happiness, and Health, asking authors to take a strength-based, transformative, and trans- and interdisciplinary perspective.

Methods

Two translational methodologies are offered: the inclusive cultural-variant community-based participatory research model (ICV-CBPR) and Communities of Practice. The six emerging themes and a summary of the connotations of hope, happiness, and health are described in the articles.

Results

The six emerging themes that connoted the meaning of hope, happiness, or health across 30 manuscripts included (a) the COVID-19 pandemic and health, (b) diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, (c) family policies and academic program needs, (d) military families, (e) contemporary family topics, and (f) research innovations. In one third of the articles, authors transformed implications, with all authors offering practical and research implications.

Conclusions

Health and happiness were often implied in notions of resilience, relationship quality, parenting, and coping. Just over half of the articles (n = 16) directly or indirectly referenced COVID-19, health, and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Other topics comprised mental and physical health, resilience, the social construction of gender, and military families. Some authors provided concrete suggestions; all submitted research and practical implications.

Implications

The movement toward Family Science disseminating and transforming research is moving forth. The diversity of topics, disciplines, and countries (n = 9) aligns with the inclusion and diversity goals of Family Relations.