The Role of the Family Genogram in assessment of Parent-Young person relationships, the experience from a Family Practice in South-Western Nigeria.

Background: The family a young person belongs to is of much importance in determining his/her future outcome. The parent-young person relationship was assessed using the family genogram. Factors associated with the relationship and how it affects the perceived family function of the young person were also assessed. Method: Two hundred and twenty-one young persons, aged 15 to 24 years, had their genograms constructed as part of family-oriented interviews conducted for family assessment and diagnosis. Relationships between young persons and their parents were categorised as either very close or not very close. Results: Respondents were more likely to be very close to their mothers than fathers 75.4% and 47.7%. First-born children were less likely to be very close to their parents than last-born children, 38.8% vs 50% with fathers and 74.2% vs 86.8% with mothers. Close relationship with either or both parents was significantly related to proper family functioning (p=0.003 with fathers and p=0.021 with mothers). Conclusion: Parent-young person relationship was significantly related to perceived family function in the study. The Family genogram is suggested as a tool for assessing parent-young person relationships.