Understanding Family Structure, Composition, And Social Standing

Family Health Assessment Part I
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Family Structure
Family structure is defined by the family’s composition, which may or may not include relatives. This considers the existence or non-existence of common-law partners or legally married spouses, children, and other relatives (Statistics Canada, 2019). Family structure may also be shaped by various attributes observed or classified based on the family’s background. It can be uniquely defined by their economic, cultural, social, religious, and political backgrounds.
Family Composition and Social Standing
This nuclear family consists of legally married spouses of different sexes and three biological children. The mother is a 45-year-old Filipina, while the father is a 47-year-old White American. They have three daughters, ages 10, 8, and 5. Both parents work white-collar jobs. The mother is a full-time operations manager of a fast-food chain, while the father is a financial analyst of a renowned company. Their salaries are above average, making them stand in the upper-middle class in society.
Race and Ethnicity
As mentioned, this is a Filipino-American family, and the culture and values of both races are being instilled in the children. However, the mother insisted on following Filipino traditions, and the husband and children also learned, spoke, and understood the Filipino language. Consequently, the family also entitles liberty of speech and actions as long as these are reputable and not detrimental to oneself and society.
Spirituality
All the members of the family are baptized under the Roman Catholic religion. They go to church every Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation and follow the religious practices specific to the Filipino culture. They also pray the rosary once a week due to the busy schedule of the parents.
Environment
The family lives in a two-story house in a non-congested neighborhood. The house is near the children’s school, hospitals and clinics, pharmacies, restaurants, supermarkets, parks, and sports stadiums. It is also a 30-minute drive to work when there is no traffic congestion.
Summary of the Overall Health Behaviors of the Family
Values and Health Perception
Generally, the family members combine culturally-sensitive health beliefs with scientifically proven interventions. The family follows the typical Filipino view of a healthy individual who is neither fat nor thin, has much physical activity, lacks mental illnesses, and has reasonable satisfaction in life. This means that the family values health holistically, involving physical, mental, and social well-being (Bonuel, 2017). The family perceives good health as one of the most important defining factors of a well-lived life. However, sometimes, the mother tries rituals and ointments made from herbs before going to the hospital, resulting in the lack of proper medical attention when the disease is immediately life-threatening.
Nutrition
The mother cooks the meals every day and ensures that the husband and children eat a balanced diet. The food usually consists of chicken or fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables. The mother seldom cooks pork or beef meat. However, all the family members can ...