Benefit-finding process development in families raising children with chronic food hypersensitivity

Objective: To examine benefit-finding processes in families raising children with chronic food hypersensitivity and provide practical advice for practitioners and families. Background: The existing literature primarily describes benefits individuals identify from adversity. This study addresses a literature gap by examining processes facilitating benefit-finding within families. Method: This was a multicenter classical grounded theory study comparing benefit-finding processes through analysis of semistructured interviews with 11 families (48 nuclear family members). Results: Three main benefit-finding processes were identified, forming a hierarchical benefit-finding process model: It Could Be Worse (benefit-finding); Silver Lining (benefit-reminding generating positive affect); Action Advantage (benefit-reminding generating advantageous behavior change). Enhanced family functioning and well-being was observed with Action Advantage. Parental training facilitated Action Advantage. Parental role-modeling and reinforcement transferred benefit-finding processes among family members, producing a shared family process. Conclusions: Training parents to model Action Advantage benefit-finding and implementing Family Management Plans addressing biopsychosocial well-being of all family members is recommended. Evidence suggests such actions may enhance family functioning, cohesive relationships, and well-being. Implications: Translatable findings advance theory and may facilitate benefit-finding process assessment instruments, interventions, and teachable strategies for practitioners and researchers supporting families raising children with chronic food hypersensitivity.