ABSTRACT
The emergence of family health as a field that integrates psychological, sociological, family, and health care perspectives in understanding the impact of illness on family systems is an exciting development. The confluence that results from these contributions promises to exceed that which any one perspective can offer. However, a major challenge facing family health is the integration of disparate theoretical orientations and research methodologies and the development of a model that is conceptually valid and testable. Rather than simply applying existing family methodologies to families with an ill member, medical conditions, treatments, and health care systems must be conceptualized as unique and powerful situations that interact with family (and other) systems.
