Studies and Research that Prove the Benefits of Family History

by Shenley Puterbaugh

“Do You Know…”

The power of family history in adolescent identity and well-being

This study was done by Marshall Duke and Robyn Fivush of Emory University and Jennifer Bohanek of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They studied 66 families. Each were asked to complete a measure of family history called the “Do You Know…” scale, a 20 question survey including questions such as, “Do you know where your parents met?” and “Do you know which person in your family you look most like?” They found that “Adolescents who report knowing more stories about their familial past show higher levels of emotional well-being, and also higher levels of identity achievement, even when controlling for general level of family functioning.

“Who Are You From?”:

The Importance of Family Stories

This study was published by Martha Dreissneck in the Journal of Family Nursing.  Martha Dreissneck, a professor at Oregon Health and Science University explores “the role of internal (genetic) and external (family) stories in building resilience in stress, disease, and illness” with her studies. She explains how instead of asking “Where are you from?” and focusing on our genetic heritage, we should be asking “Who are you from?” Her study concludes, “Knowing one’s family stories creates meaning that goes beyond the individual to provide a sense of self, through time, and in relation to family. This expanded sense of self is referred to as our intergenerational self, which not only grounds an individual but also provides a larger context for understanding and dealing with life’s experience(s) and challenges. This connection across generations appears to contribute to resilience at all stages of life."

The Ancestor Effect

Thinking about our genetic origin enhances intellectual performance

Peter Fischer, Anne Saur, Claudia Vogrincic, Silke Weisweiler from the University of Graz, the University of Berlin, and the University of Munich published this study in The European Journal of Social Psychology. The performed 4 small studies where individuals would think about their ancestors or think about their last trip to the supermarket. The conclusion was, “Thinking about one's genetic origin (i.e. ancestors) provides people with a positive psychological resource that increases their intellectual performance.” There was no difference shown between thinking of positive family stories or negative family stories!

An Ecological Systems Approach to Family Narratives

Robyn Fivush and Natalie Merrill of Emory University, look at 3 dynamically interacting systems of family narratives: shared family narratives, communicative family narratives, and family history. They focus on family storytelling and how it creates a sense of identity. They mention the benefits of grandparents and parents telling stories to children and that the benefits come to the listener AND the teller of the stories.

Use of Family Narratives as a Tool of Effective Parenting

Rakesh Maurya from the University of Wisconsin shares the important of family narratives in parenting. He claims that a family narrative is “the way through which children and adolescents connect across generations to create self-identity.” He says that, “by anchoring oneself in family history, one develops a sense of place and security that may facilitate self-confidence and self-competence. Family stories help families pass on values, experiences, traditions and important life lessons to the next generations.