ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the public health approach to health and wellness, addresses life course and intergenerational factors that impact the family system. It examines the family from a family stress theoretical perspective. In 1976, at a symposium on aging, M. Bowen presented a systems view of the aging process. In general, he thought that a person who was in viable contact with family members would do better in older years than a person who lacked viable contact with family. Many ideas in the family life course stress model have correlates in Bowen family systems theory. Bowen family systems theory provides a framework for evaluating the mechanisms influencing the variability in stress response among family members. Bowen’s cornerstone concept of differentiation of self involves the capacity of a family member to stay emotionally connected with family members while also defining a self.
