Healthy Family Indicators from the Perspective of Iranian Working People: A Grounded Theory Study

The present study was aimed at identifying healthy family indicators from the perspective of working people. Therefore, it seemed necessary to consider cultural standards and personal and family experiences in determining healthy family indicators. A qualitative method based on the grounded theory was used, and the data were gathered using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The sample included 18 married and educated, working people (4 men and 14 women) who were selected using a purposeful sampling method. Major healthy family indicators were classified into three categories. The first category, called “Feeling of integration and companionship,” included the following subcategories: Empathy, Space for communication, Recognition and respect for mutual rights and obligations, and Mutual respect and love. The second category, called “Healthy psychological environment,” included the following subcategories: Sense of peace, Happiness and staying away from negative factors, and Healthy thoughts and beliefs. The third category, called “Presence of some virtues in the family members,” included the following subcategories: Honesty, Forgiveness, and Overlooking financial aspects. Nine of the indicators found in this study were similar to those found in the previous studies, including Empathy, Space for communication, Recognition and respect for mutual rights and obligations, Mutual respect and love, Sense of peace, Happiness and staying away from negative factors, Healthy thoughts and beliefs, Honesty, and Forgiveness. Overlooking financial issues was a new indicator only identified in the present study.