The influence of family functioning and family structure on the health of children : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

As families maintain the primary care of children, it is important to understand the role the family plays in the development of children. One aspect of child development that has been found to be related to the family is child health. The literature on the effects of family functioning and family structure on the health of children is reviewed in this paper. This overview has been divided into two categories: family functioning and family structure. The literature on each of these categories is presented first followed by a discussion of the findings along with opportunities for further research.