Family Matters
By Patryk Dabek
From the ancient Greeks to the present day, science has been rooted in accurate and controlled measurement. From the nanometers used to measure viruses to the light-years used to measure distances across galaxies, scientists have explored the physical universe around us on practically every scale. On the other hand, research in the social sciences tends to focus on one small unit of study — the individual. However, recent studies have explored the merits of examining familial relations in the context of an individual’s behavior — lending new insights into how we create public health strategies, conduct research, and combat addiction.
In one such study, researchers at Oxford University began by showing participants a series of images to test their level of fusion, or connection, with different groups. These images showed two circles: one representing the participant and the other representing the group in question (family, friends, country, and humanity). Over a set of five images, these two circles were brought together until they fully overlapped. Participants were then able to select which image they aligned with most strongly — indicating their level of bond with that group.
The second part of the study asked participants to answer questions regarding their public health behaviors. Their results had enormous implications. Participants who showed a greater fusion with the family group were also more likely to comply with pandemic regulations than those who did not have a strong bond. This study has illustrated a need for social scientists to enhance their analytic designs to also include larger primary units — families, in particular.
Another recent study by the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw backs up this finding through an examination of happiness around the world. By comparing traditionally individualistic measures of happiness with the Interdependent Happiness Scale (IHS) — which centers on the connections of participants with their families — the researchers found that the IHS performed more consistently globally (across 63 countries) than any other subjective happiness scale. By gaining a better understanding of global determinants of happiness, we can work to develop new policies that prioritize universal needs and interpersonal connections to strengthen our collective well-being.
One crucial application of this research is combatting addiction. Prior research into substance use disorders (SUDs) has focused on policy changes to improve treatment for individuals; however, focusing solely on individuals is insufficient for addressing a disease with far-reaching impacts. The effects of SUDs are detrimental not only to an individual’s life, but also to their whole family. These changes alter the psychosocial functioning of family members, leading to poor outcomes for many children and a resurgence in the cycle of addiction.
Additional studies into SUDs have also revealed clear evidence that familial genetics play a key role in their development. Evidence from genome-wide studies of SUDs, many led by the Gelernter lab at Yale, have confirmed the presence of heritable influences on SUDs and have greatly advanced genetic discovery for multiple SUDs in recent years, including large-scale studies of opioid use disorder that have helped identify which genes influence risk for developing the disorder. This is noteworthy progress considering that a majority of the 108,000 overdose deaths in the United States last year were caused by opioids.
Investigating both the “nature and nurture” of addiction has led us to understand one thing clearly: the impacts of addiction stretch beyond an individual and into their community and family. While these findings have furthered our understanding of the disease, that alone is not enough. Policymakers should also consider enacting family-based addiction treatment policies moving forward.
Citations
Bahar Tunçgenç et al. ,Social bonds are related to health behaviors and positive well-being globally.Sci. Adv.9, eadd3715(2023).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.add3715
Deak, J.D., Zhou, H., Galimberti, M. et al. Genome-wide association study in individuals of European and African ancestry and multi-trait analysis of opioid use disorder identifies 19 independent genome-wide significant risk loci. Mol Psychiatry 27, 3970–3979 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01709-1
Gardiner G, Lee D, Baranski E, Funder D, Members of the International Situations Project (2020) Happiness around the world: A combined etic-emic approach across 63 countries. PLOS ONE 15(12): e0242718. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242718
Gupta, S. (2023, February 6). We prioritize family over self, and that has real-world implications. Science News. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.sciencenews.org/article/prioritize-family-self-pandemic
Toula Kourgiantakis, Rachelle Ashcroft, Faisa Mohamud, Gwendolyn Fearing & Jane Sanders (2021) Family-Focused Practices in Addictions: A Scoping Review, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 21:1, 18–53, DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2020.1870287
