Family Diversities and Wellbeing Framework
Family Wellbeing
Guided by earlier research on the wellbeing of individuals and groups,1 we view family wellbeing as having three dimensions: material (what people have), relational (their social connections) and subjective (their sense of the fit between their aspirations and goals and their experiences)


Material wellbeing: what people have
Material wellbeing is the resources that families have, such as adequate food, shelter, and income. It can also include other resources used to address health care, wellbeing and other necessary expenditures.
Examples:
• Income and wealth
• Family health
• Housing
• Food security
• Education
Relational wellbeing: social connections
Relational wellbeing is a sense of satisfaction with the social relationships people have that provide them with support and feelings of connection and belonging.
Examples:
• Satisfaction with family relationships
• Satisfaction with time spent with family
• Sense of community belonging
• Physical and psychological safety
Subjective wellbeing: alignment of family goals and experiences
Subjective wellbeing is the sense of fit between the goals and aspirations of families and their experiences. It also includes how people perceive their family is functioning when compared to others.
Examples:
• Satisfaction with family life as a whole
• Satisfaction with family life in comparison to other families
- McGregor, J. A., & Pouw, N. (2017). Towards an economics of well-being. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 41(4), 1123–1142. https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bew044 ↩︎
Related resources
Research summaries / March 26, 2024
Research Snapshot: Inuit Mothers’ Visions for Child and Family Wellness in Nunavut, Canada
Summary of a study on how the child welfare system is perceived by Inuit mothers
View resourceResearch summaries / June 29, 2023
Research Snapshot: Immigrant Men, Racism, and Family Wellbeing in Canada
Highlights from a study exploring the impact of the migration process in Canada on family wellbeing
View resourceResearch summaries / October 16, 2023
Research Snapshot: Protecting Against Food Insecurity: Impacts on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Summary of a study on protecting children from food insecurity
View resourceExplore the framework
Click the framework lenses below to learn more
Family Structure
How people are linked to form families

Family Work
How paid and unpaid work are distributed in families

Family Identity
How family identities are constructed

Family Wellbeing
Material, Relational, Subjective
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