A conceptual model of family well-being: Bridging constructs, fields, and practice applications

Abstract

Family functioning, family resilience, family health, and family flourishing are concepts used in research across multiple fields. One challenge of their interdisciplinary use is that there are a variety of definitions of each, with researchers sometimes creating their own definitions rather than using well-established definitions. This can lead to different conceptualization of the same concept across studies. It is, therefore, necessary to develop a conceptual framework to understand the interplay between each of these family concepts, including their differences and overlap, to inform research, practice, and policy. In this article, we present the definitions, concepts, and common measurements of each concept. Based on the examination of the literature, we propose a conceptual framework of family well-being that demonstrates the interplay of these concepts. We present empirical findings to understand how well some common measures differentiate between each other. Finally, we discuss the implications for research and practice.