• Family dynamics can motivate and prevent

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Thu Dec 9 21:30:46 2021
    Family dynamics can motivate and prevent talking about health

    Date:
    December 9, 2021
    Source:
    Iowa State University
    Summary:
    New research explores how family dynamics factor into whether 18-
    to 25- year-olds share private health information and involve their
    parents when making medical decisions. Having open and respectful
    conversations and reciprocal information sharing early on could
    help improve an emerging adult's overall health.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    For many emerging adults, the period between 18 and 25 years of age
    marks a stage of life to explore what matters to them and assume
    new legal rights and responsibilities, including their own private
    health information and medical decision-making. But this transition to independence can create sticky family dynamics, especially when emerging
    adults remain on their parents' health insurance plans.


    ==========================================================================
    A new study from Iowa State University finds open dialogue and reciprocal information sharing between parents and emerging adults reduces barriers
    for talking about health, which can lead to better overall health outcomes
    for an emerging adult.

    "If you're an emerging adult who's worried about what a parent might
    think, particularly if it's a health issue that's stigmatized or your
    choices in handling the health issue do not align with your parent's
    values, then chances are you're going to avoid seeking treatment or
    look for an alternative route," said Katherine Rafferty, an associate
    teaching professor of psychology and communication studies at Iowa State University, and co-author of the new publication published in Western
    Journal of Communication.

    In the U.S., turning 18 means an individual can make medical decisions
    without parental consent. They also assume legal ownership over their
    private health information. But with the Affordable Care Act, adult
    children can stay on their parents' health insurance plans until their
    26th birthday. So, while parents are not privy to their adult child's
    medical records, they still receive bills.

    "When mom and dad are paying for their adult child's health, any time
    they go to a doctor or seek medical care, it lends itself to needing to
    have a conversation," said Rafferty.

    To understand how conversations about private health information were
    unfolding between emerging adults and their parents, Rafferty, along
    with Associate Professor of English Tina Coffelt and a research team
    of undergraduate students, surveyed more than 300 college students; the majority were on their parents' health insurance plans and came from a traditional, nuclear family with a mother and father.



    ==========================================================================
    The researchers' found three significant factors that affect whether
    an emerging adult discloses health information to a parent: relational
    quality, reciprocity, and conformity.

    "Basically, how good of a relationship do I have with mom or dad? Did
    my parents share their own health information or decision-making with
    me when I was growing up? Did I grow up in a family that talked about
    health issues? Were my parents open to differences or expected me to
    conform to family norms?" Rafferty explained.

    Relational Quality The researchers found that emerging adults who
    perceive their parents as being open and respectful are more likely to
    talk about health issues, but these conversations tend to happen much
    more frequently with mothers compared to fathers.

    "Given gender norms and the way men and women are socialized differently,
    it kind of makes sense that in a traditional family, there might be
    this desire or willingness to be open with mom more so than dad,"
    said Rafferty.



    ========================================================================== Rafferty and the other researchers emphasized that mothers are typically
    the ones who keep track of doctor's appointments and health information
    in families. Sharing health information with mom as an emerging adult
    may simply be a continuation of past behaviors and build on previously
    shared knowledge about the emerging adult's health history.

    Reciprocity The researchers found emerging adults were much more likely
    to talk to their parents about their health if their parents modeled this behavior early in the relationship. Rafferty said reciprocal information sharing also helps emerging adults better manage their health, whether
    they're updating their family health history at the doctor's office or
    seeking additional care.

    "We're learning more and more about certain types of cancers and mental
    health issues that have genetic components. It's so important in those
    cases, especially for emerging adults, to know what they are predisposed
    to, that they're not alone, and that they have their parent's support,"
    said Rafferty.

    Conformity Orientation The researchers found stigma around certain
    health topics (e.g., sexual behaviors) also had a big effect on health disclosures. Emerging adults who worried about feeling ashamed or wanted
    to protect a relationship with their father were more likely to conceal
    private health information from them, particularly if they came from
    families with "high conformity orientations." However, this did not
    influence talking with a mother about private health issues.

    "With a high conformity orientation, there's a lot of pressure to abide
    by family norms, usually from a father figure in a traditional family," Rafferty explained, giving the example of Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro's character) from the movie "Meet the Parents." "There's this expectation
    about what one can and cannot talk about with family members." Rafferty pointed to the TV show "Modern Family" as an example of low conformity orientation. In this show, family members are accepted and embraced for
    having different lifestyles.

    The new findings highlight how family dynamics factor into whether
    emerging adults share private health information and involve their parents
    when making medical decisions. Open and respectful conversations and
    reciprocal information sharing early on can improve an emerging adult's
    overall health and reduce family conflict.

    Rafferty, whose research area tends to focus on parents with medically
    complex children, also recommended parents involve their children when
    managing their health.

    "If your child has diabetes, teach them how to administer their insulin
    or figure out what foods to eat to combat low blood sugar, rather than
    just waiting for mom or dad to say, 'OK, it's time to take your insulin,"
    she explained.

    Rafferty said including children in their own health management and
    making medical decisions together can make the transition to emerging
    adulthood a lot smoother. Emerging adults will feel more empowered and
    know they have support when they're going through a health issue.

    "If COVID has taught us anything, it is that health issues will
    impact all of us at some point," Rafferty said. "We have all had
    to pause and re-evaluate our physical health and well-being. How
    parents' model this for their children will influence how they talk
    about and approach health issues when they become emerging adults." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Iowa_State_University. Note: Content
    may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Katherine A. Rafferty, Tina A. Coffelt, Nicole Miller. Understanding
    Criteria that Predict Private Health Information Disclosures between
    Emerging Adults & Their Parents. Western Journal of Communication,
    2021; 1 DOI: 10.1080/10570314.2021.1995622 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211209201704.htm

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