Evaluation of university students' perceived family climate, intergenerational relations and family cohesion

Background and Aim: Family is the first and most important environment in which an individual learns health behavior. As family and health are factors that affect each other, it is important to know all aspects of family climate to provide holistic health service to the individual. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate family climate, intergenerational relations and family cohesion perceptions of university students and to focus on family-health relationship. Material and Method: In our study, university students who were educated and accepted study in the 2018-2019 academic year were asked to complete the online questionnaire which lasted approximately 7-8 minutes. Sociodemographic information form and Family Climate Scale (FCS) were used to evaluate the perceived family climate, intergenerational relations and family cohesion. Results: 772 university students (485 female and 287 male) participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 22.05±2.84 years. The mean total score of FCS was 67.83±11.73. No significant difference was found between perceived family climate, family cohesion and age, gender, faculty, grade, place of residence, monthly income of the family, paternal education and occupation (p>0.05). The participants with detached/reunited family, with only one child, with psychological problems and were using antidepressants had significantly more negative perception of family climate and family relations (p<0.05). In indulgent families, family climate was perceived as more positive than in authoritarian families. There was a significant relationship between perceived cognitive cohesion and family structure, number of siblings, maternal education level, participant health status and medication use (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between perceived intergenerational authority and age, place of living, paternal education and occupation (p>0.05). Participants with family monthly income was less than 2020 TL, with detached/reunited family, and with three or more siblings perceived intergenerational authority more significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: As family physicians; it is important to approach the individual holistically with his/her family and to evaluate him/her with physical, spiritual, cultural and existential dimensions and to have an idea about family climate, intergenerational relations and family cohesion. We believe that it will be of great benefit in determining the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the diseases according to the needs of the individual in the sustainability of the well-being of individual health. Keywords: Family climate, Family physician, Holistic approach, Family health