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Updated: May 9, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Rapid changes in American family life: consequences for child health and pediatric practice
Barbara H Fiese1, Holly G Rhodes, William R Beardslee
1Department of Human and Community Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
Insights
Pediatricians can improve child health by addressing family factors like composition, routines, and parental depression. This approach leverages pediatrician access to families for better pediatric care and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Family Studies
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Pediatricians are frontline caregivers for children and have access to their families.
- Understanding family dynamics is crucial for effective child health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a rationale and evidence base for identifying family characteristics impacting child health.
- To suggest practical approaches for pediatricians to improve child care based on family factors.
Main Methods:
- Review of 3 Institute of Medicine and National Research Council reports.
- Synthesis of recent family research relevant to child health.
- Focus on specific family factors: composition, routines, and parental depression.
Main Results:
- Family composition and living arrangements significantly impact child health.
- Established family routines are linked to better child health outcomes.
- Parental depression is a key factor affecting a child's well-being.
Conclusions:
- Pediatricians can integrate family-centered approaches into practice.
- Addressing family factors can enhance the quality of pediatric care.
- Evidence supports interventions targeting family dynamics for improved child health.
Abstract:
Pediatricians are in the unique position of being on the front line of care for children and having access to their families. This article presents both a rationale and the evidence base for identifying the family characteristics and processes that affect child health and suggests approaches that pediatricians can implement to improve the care of children, using data from 3 recent reports of the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, as well as other recent family research. Evidence regarding the impact on child health of 3 family factors in particular (family composition and living arrangements, family routines, and parental depression) is highlighted, and implications for pediatric practice are described.
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