Family dynamics have a significant impact on an individual's health and lifestyle. A supportive family will give one emotional support and economic well-being, which enhances an individual's overall health. On the other hand, if one's family inflicts stress and conflict on family members, their overall health is always negatively affected. This essay discusses on the positive and negative impact of family on an individual’s health.
Positive Influence
First of all, families are the primary source of social relationships, especially in close families. Therefore, when one is close to their families, it reduces a chance of suffering from depression, mental illnesses, and other chronic diseases. Notably, research insists on marriage, which affects the health and well-being of an individual ( Strohschein & Gauthier, 2018) . Marriage provides emotional support, companionship, and the economic security of an individual. Furthermore, marriage one's physical health is linked to marriage.
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Secondly, family influences an individual’s engagement in risky behaviors. For instance, if one has a supportive family, they do not engage in risky behaviors like drinking alcohol or living on a high-fat diet. Family can further influence one to visit a doctor for screening and checkups regularly.
Thirdly, social support from friend and family also has a protective benefit on the individual, which reduces mortality risks. From research, individuals who reported to have their family support had a few cases of blood pressure, psychological distress, and depressive episodes.
Negative Influence
While familial relationships have a positive impact on one’s health and well-being, studies also reveal that they can negatively impact on one's health and lifestyle. First, unhappy marriages, for instance, causes stress and depressive syndromes, which has implications on both the physical and mental health ( Strohschein & Gauthier, 2018) .
Secondly, a child that grows up in an unsupportive family that is characterized by violence and neglect may be associated with aggressiveness, bitterness, and poor physical health ( Trujillo et al.,2016) .
Thirdly, gender roles in some cultures negatively impact the health conditions of family members. For instance, females may have restricted access to health care because they have to consult and seek permission from their husbands. As such, they only open up to the family on severe health conditions.
In conclusion, family impacts on one’s health and lifestyle both positively and negatively. Family is a primary social unit thus it can cause both stress and happiness on a person which are essential elements for a happy living. Closer and supportive family relationships influences on one’s possibility of contracting depressive syndromes and indulgence in risky behaviors which is key to a healthy lifestyle.
References
Strohschein, L., & Gauthier, A. H. (2018). Poverty dynamics, parenting, and child mental health in Canada. Society and Mental Health , 8 (3), 231-247.
Trujillo, M. A., Perrin, P. B., Panyavin, I., Peralta, S. V., Stolfi, M. E., Morelli, E., & Arango-Lasprilla, J. C. (2016). Mediation of family dynamics, personal strengths, and mental health in dementia caregivers. Journal of Latina/o Psychology , 4 (1), 1.
