A child’s care is directly related to their parents’ view of healthcare systems, economic background, and access to treatment options. These factors also influence the outlook a child has on health as they reach adulthood. Not only do families support physical health and well-being, but they also play a role in mental, social, and emotional health. Through real-world interviews and medical research, the importance of familial support systems in the neurodevelopment of a child can be illustrated. Family dynamics are critical not only in individual health trajectories but also in how they function in broader public health patterns within communities.
A family’s financial situation and geographical location directly determine the access to healthcare that a child can obtain. In an interview, Jane Hammond, a pediatric nurse practitioner, discusses her positive experience with gaining treatment as a child. She says, “I came from a very medically literate family, and we went to a doctor for care, and we had insurance most of the time, and if something was wrong, it was expected to be taken care of.” This statement points to the broader reality of the gap in healthcare depending on the monetary resources available. Families with a stable economic situation and access to care can often seek help for their children. This allows the child to learn how to advocate for themselves and reach out to medical professionals when needed. Alternatively, in communities where economic hardship is prevalent or where trust in healthcare institutions is low, parents may delay or avoid seeking care or rely on alternative treatments that are not effective. These decisions, while often out of necessity, can result in untreated health conditions and create a pattern of unmet health needs (or in worse cases, untreated illness) for multiple generations. Thankfully for Hammond, her financial stability and the trust in healthcare providers instilled in her as a child allow her to have a positive relationship with her well-being as an adult. The detriment that a low socioeconomic status can have on children is backed by evidence from a study published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience about family environment and neurodevelopmental outcomes. It states, “Roughly one in five children live in poverty in the U.S., and in 2015, 51% of children in U.S. public schools were from low-income families. For decades, investigations focused on socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood indicate that children in lower SES families have poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes across multiple domains…”. (Bush, et al.). While Hammond’s story illustrates a best-case scenario, many families face different circumstances. It is important to remember those who do not have the resources for positive healthcare decisions and work towards solutions.
Through Kesha Neely’s life, it is evident that relationships with family members are vital in determining the mental health of developing children. Neely grew up as an African American in the South during segregation. In an interview, she discusses that health was not talked about within her family growing up, and she does not want that to be the case for her sons. A study conducted by Salihović et al. (2020), published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, also describes how essential the family unit is for mental health. It states, “Close emotional relationships with parents result in positive psychological outcomes for children, while bad emotional connections lead to negative outcomes. Family conflicts are most strongly associated with depressive symptoms.”(Salihović, et al.). The study highlights the importance of fostering positive factors within a household to improve mental health and eliminating the risks to a child’s health. For example, some positive factors are family traditions, effective communication, and acceptance of change. On the other hand, some potential risks to mental health are social isolation, unrealistic expectations, frequent stressful situations, and conflict. In Neely’s interview, the familial factors influencing her health were insurance, the medical history of her mother, and the challenges associated with being an African American. While her parents are loving and supportive, she is trying to break some of the behaviors instilled by her family and raise her sons with a better view of well-being. She says, “And being a mother, making sure the boys had their annual appointments, and “Something’s wrong. We need to go to the doctor.” So I can see a difference with raising them than maybe how I was raised.” Neely’s story shows how generational change is possible through intention and redefined physical and mental health priorities.
While Neely’s story focuses on shifting inherited emotional patterns, Maria Torres reveals how cultural practices around physical care are deeply rooted in family tradition. In her interview, she explains how her mother would care for her when she fell ill, saying, “Whenever I had a fever or something or when I was having stomach problems, she’d give me Pedialyte and try to keep my hydrated, or she’d give me some mint tea—that seemed to help a lot—or VapoRub, rubbed it on my chest, tried to get rid of this congestion.” Her cultural background as a Hispanic and the traditions that her family holds impact her health practices. Because her mother is reluctant to go to the doctor, Torres also does not see a medical provider and uses at-home remedies, even as an adult. As one study says, “Given that the support of friends and intimate partners usually replaces or at least complements parental support when adolescents become adults, it is interesting to discover that family relationships in adolescents have such lasting effects until middle age.” (Salihović, et al.). This quote shows just how deeply embedded health behaviors are in family culture, and how the habits modeled in childhood can define adult approaches.
The healthcare practices that are beneficial to children are essential to put into practice, and they go beyond just eating healthy and getting regular exercise. In one particular study, the self-care practices that households have are seen to improve physical health outcomes. The article defines self-care in this way: “Self-care behaviors not only include actions to improve physical health, but also attitudes or desire to safeguard oneself. This practice is oriented towards self-reflection, meeting personal needs, and making a conscious and reasonable effort to seek resources that contribute to personal health and well-being.” (Torres-Soto, et al.). As seen in the interviews, families that implement self-care habits such as good sleep, regulating emotions through speech, and cultivating gratitude develop children who are resilient and conscious about health.
Families are foundational in supporting mental, social, and emotional well-being, offering children the coping mechanisms they will carry into adulthood. They are not only the first point of contact for health habits but also the primary emotional support system that shapes long-term care. By understanding and strengthening family dynamics, public health initiatives can more effectively create change to improve the neurodevelopment of the children who will shape the future.
References
Amela Salihović, et al. “The connection between the family environment and the
mental health of an individual.” ResearchGate, vol.8, no.8, 2021,www.researchgate.net/publication/354173168_the_connection_between_the_family_environment_and_the_mental_health_of_an_individual.
Bush, Nicole R., et al. “Family Environment, Neurodevelopmental Risk, and the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Initiative: Looking Back and Moving Forward.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, no. 547, 19 June 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00547.
Hammond, Jane. Interview. Conducted by Maddy Kameny, Stories to Save Lives Oral
History Collection, Southern Oral History Program, 27 June 2018
Neely, Kesha. Interview. Conducted by Madelaine Katz, Stories to Save Lives Oral
History Collection, Southern Oral History Program, 10 July 2019
Torres, Maria. Interview. Conducted by Joanna Ramirez, Stories to Save Lives Oral
History Collection, Southern Oral History Program, 25 June 2018.
Torres-Soto, Nissa Yaing, et al. “The Relationship between Self-Care, Positive Family Environment, and Human Wellbeing.” Wellbeing, Space and Society, vol. 3, 2022, p. 100076, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2022.100076.