Developmental transitions in families refer to the stages and changes that occur over the life span of families. A theoretical grounding opens doors to different ways of understanding and offers varying options for assessment and intervention. By understanding theories, health care providers are better prepared to think creatively and critically about how health and illness affect families. Shirley May Harmon Hanson writes that a reciprocal relationship exists among theory, practice, and research; each informs the other, thus expanding knowledge and interventions that help individuals and families. This entry utilizes family development and transition theories to provide structure for health care providers who assess, intervene, and evaluate individual and family health care. The developmental and transition theories are intended to provide health care providers with one ...