Beyond Care: Family Health Nursing as a Promoter of Family Resilience and Coping; a Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: The growing global aging population intensifies the burden on informal caregivers, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions. Family health nursing offers a model emphasizing relational care and psychosocial support, yet evidence on its impact on family resilience and coping remains fragmented. Objective: To map scientific literature on family-centered nursing interventions and their association with the promotion of resilience and family coping, acting on resilience and coping, which in turn function as mediators of care empowerment in informal caregivers and families. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic literature review included studies published between March 2015 and March 2025 in English, Portuguese, French, and German. Databases consulted: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools, and data synthesis employed a metanarrative approach. Results: Seven studies were included: 1 systematic review, 2 scoping reviews, 2 qualitative studies, 1 quantitative study, and 1 opinion article. Interventions like psychoeducation, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) promoted emotional regulation, reduced caregiver burden, and strengthened relational resilience, positively impacting the care recipient's quality of life. The metanarrative identified four themes: (1) Meaning-making through adversity (Benefit Finding and Posttraumatic Growth); (2) Relational and contextual mediation of resilience; (3) Transformative potential of psychosocial nursing interventions; and (4) The relationship between informal caregiver resilience and care recipient quality of life. Conclusions: Family-centered nursing interventions significantly enhance the psychosocial well-being and adaptive capacities of caregivers and families. Future longitudinal, methodologically robust, and culturally sensitive studies are needed to generalize these findings. Implications for Clinical Practice: This review highlights the importance of structured, family-sensitive interventions in family health nursing, promoting caregiver and family engagement, health system sustainability, and improved quality of life in long-term care.