How could you use the family structural theory to determine if a family is dysfunctional or not?

How could you use the family structural theory to determine if a family is dysfunctional or not? Provide evidence to support your answer.

Family structure refers to family composition involving relationship and roles. Family members have certain relationships with one another and may have certain rules and roles with each other as well. In order for the nurse to assess the family’s connection, the nurse needs to use a family structure theory.

The three types of dysfunctional family relationships are: Enmeshed- this is where the family is overly close, disengaged- the family is very distant from each other, and triangulation- where the family members are torn between two other family members ( Edelman & Mandle, 2010).

It is important for the family to tell everything up front about themselves and other family members, so that the nurse that is assessing the family can fix certain issues that the family may have. In order to help this family’s through these stressful situations, there needs to be good communication between the family and nurse. With good communication, the nurse can provide help to the family and develop better strategies and resolve any conflict.

Reference:

Edelman, C., & Mandle C.L. (2010). Health promotion throughout the life span (7^th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.