FAMILY STRENGTHS, MOTIVATION AND RESOURCES AS PREDICTORS OF HEALTH PROMOTION BEHAVIOR IN SINGLE-PARENT AND TWO-PARENT FAMILIES.
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 272
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.; Women's Studies.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: This study tested a proposition deduced from Allen's Developmental Health Model (DHM) that the health potential of a family (its strengths, motivation and resources) is positively related to engagement in a process of health-related problem-solving (health work) in a Canadian sample of 138 single-parent (SPFs) and two-parent families (TPFs). The mother and one child (age 10-14) each completed mailed self-report instruments used to assess family cohesion (FACES III), family pride (Family Strengths Scale), mother's non-traditional sex role orientation (FEM Scale), self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale), internal health locus of control (IHLCS), network support (PRQ-85), community support (Family Social Support Index) and family income. Choice of health options (CHO), was measured by the Health Options Scale, developed by the investigator (alpha =.89, pilot and final study).

The findings showed that family types were similar on demographic and main study variables with three exceptions: SPFs had fewer children, lower annual incomes, and less community support than TPFs. In a multiple regression analysis using family scores, the independent variables predicted 22-27% of the variance in CHO for the total sample and for each family type. Backward elimination of variables resulted in three different two variables solutions. Family cohesion predicted a significant amount of variance in CHO for the total sample (13%), SPFs (8%) and TPFs (9%). Mothers' Sex Role Orientation explained an additional 6% of the variance for the total sample, while general self-efficacy and community support accounted for another 8% and 10% of the variance for SPFs and TPFs, respectively. Content analysis of qualitative semi-structured interviews of 16 families confirmed and enriched the quantitative findings.

In conclusion, strengths, motivation and resources of families were important influences on family health promotion processes, thus, providing support for the DHM. From a feminist perspective, the striking similarities found between SPFs and TPFs challenge existing problem-oriented views of SPFs by focusing on their potential to engage in health promotion behavior.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-02, Section: B, page: 0741.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1994.

School code: 0254.