Chronic Illness, Disability, Secondary Conditions, and the Culturally Diverse Family

This chapter provides readers with an understanding of how cultural factors play a significant role within families who have members with significant physical and mental health related issues such as chronic illnesses, disabilities, and secondary disabling conditions. The significance of how cultural factors contribute to the coping, adjusting, caring, and managing of family members who acquired chronic illnesses, disabilities, and secondary disabling conditions is of vital importance when assisting and providing therapy as a family therapy intervention. A summary of cultural competence skills recommendations for working with families from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds is also presented.