title: Interactive use of genograms and ecomaps in family caregiving research.
abstract: This article argues for the concurrent and comparative use of genograms and ecomaps in family caregiving research. A genogram is a graphic portrayal of the composition and structure of one's family and an ecomap is a graphic portrayal of personal and family social relationships. Although development and utilization of genograms and ecomaps is rooted in clinical practice with families, as research tools they provide data that can enhance the researcher's understanding of family member experiences. In qualitative research of the supportive and nonsupportive interactions experienced by male family caregivers, the interactive use of genograms and ecomaps (a) facilitated increased understanding of social networks as a context for caregiving, (b) promoted a relational process between researcher and participant, and (c) uncovered findings such as unrealized potential in the participant's social network that may not be revealed with the use of the genogram or ecomap alone, or the noncomparative use of both.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. gwen.rempel@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Gwen R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rempel
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Kaysi Eastlick
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kushner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D022143:Family Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D035844:Researcher-Subject Relations; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support