Reconstructing wellness among Australian families transitioning through the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

There is a general understanding that wellness is a holistic, multidimensional concept, encompassing various aspects of human life, which complement one another. Studies have found different key dimensions that make up wellness. However, this study limited itself to the following eight dimensions - occupational, emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, physical, social, and intellectual at the interface of Australian families transitioning through the COVID-19 pandemic. These eight usually surface in many other studies. Given the lack of empirical research related to family well-being, the study sought to explore how family wellness was affected in a multidimensional way within the COVID-19 pandemic and tried to understand how family life may be reconstructed in light of the stressors relating to the wellness dimensions that have been brought to bear upon these families. Hence, a qualitative approach was deployed as the study became inquiry grounded. Thus, it was conducted through semi-structured interviews in which the researcher interrogated the lived experiences and perspectives of families based in Melbourne, Australia. A non-probability/convenience sampling approach was used to recruit 12 families until saturation was reached. The collected data was analysed by classifying the identical narratives through thematic analysis and the results showed that COVID-19 negatively impacted all eight wellness dimensions used to assess family wellness during the pandemic. The key findings show that some of families suffered job losses and business shutdown, while many families experienced heightened psychological and mental effects. Equally, the closure of religious centres contributed to feelings of hopelessness and loss of direction, while household domestic waste increased due to families working and schooling from home. Families experienced financial instability; and physical activities were disrupted which contributed to weight gain. In addition, the families experienced social isolation, while their intellectual wellness was compromised due to limited access to learning materials. Nevertheless, the families managed to create pathways to circumvent the constraints imposed by the lockdown among which included maintaining connections with family friends and colleagues; working from home; controlling expenditure; managing work-life balance; engaging in indoor exercises and outdoor activities within the social isolation mandates; observing conservation practices, showing altruistic behaviour, and playing games/online reading and viewing. The pathways of wellness pursued by families illustrated the connectivity between the wellness dimensions and the moderating influence of wellness support programmes. The critical finding of this study revealed that the support structure provided by families has a major effect on how the families reconstructed and maintained their wellness during the pandemic, and thus the family-centric support system was recommended in this study. Based on the analysed information, the study put forth a wellness framework for consideration. This study will contribute to the growing research on the COVID-19 pandemic, by exploring its influence (COVID-19) on family wellness, as well as contribute to the awareness and understanding of pandemics and their effect on family wellness. The study is also expected to contribute both locally and globally in shaping strategies and policies to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic in relation to wellness and ensure that family life is restored and preserved immediately afterwards. Furthermore, the research highlighted diverse holistic approaches as alternative methodologies in preserving and reconstructing family life regarding wellness across the eight dimensions. These were considered in a recommended wellness framework