Families are the foundational unit of society in which an individual’s identity, behaviors, and habits are shaped. The lasting impact of the family unit spans generations, highlighting the importance of implementing healthy and positive family practices. At BYU’s Brain, Family, and Health (BFH) Lab, public health professor Dr. Ali Crandall and her team research how family life education can strengthen mental, physical, and emotional health across generations.
To explore these intergenerational connections, student researchers analyzed survey data from three generations of families and created a series of educational modules designed to strengthen bonds, address sensitive issues, and break harmful cycles. This initiative guides participants toward greater health literacy and generational well-being.
Illuminating Real Needs
Project participants first completed a survey to indicate their interest in various health education topics. Using the results, the BFH Lab finalized a list of focus areas, which included supporting family members who face mental health issues, fostering positive experiences to combat trauma, navigating technology use in the home, communicating about reproductive health, and strengthening connections across generations and distance. Video modules were then uploaded onto a Facebook group populated by the participating families. To evaluate the effectiveness of the videos, participants completed surveys both before and after viewing the modules.
Though the BFH Lab is still processing results for publication, Crandall notes that participants reported improvements in knowledge after watching the modules. “As they view these modules, I hope families realize that they’re not alone in their struggles,” Crandall says. “Sometimes even small things can help them grow individually and as a family and can even strengthen the communities around them.”
Student researchers felt a powerful connection with the project. “The research really resonated with me,” explains Emma Alexander (PWS ’27), who came from a single-parent home. Hayley Poffenberger (MS ’25, PH), a recent graduate from the integrated BS/MPH program, found the experience profoundly meaningful. They both gained important technical skills while conducting this research. “They took initiative,” Crandall says. “Though they were figuratively thrown into the deep end of the pool and had to figure out how to do it, they used their creativity to go the extra mile and make successful modules.” Their willingness to learn and to try new things not only advanced the project but also helped them become better scientists.
Lighting the Path Forward
While Crandall’s lab studies project data, the researchers never lost sight of the fact that behind every number is a real family’s story. Alexander felt this deeply when she reviewed participant survey responses. “They really stuck with me,” she says. “One student shared how hard it was to stay connected with a busy single parent, and it reminded me that these are real lives we’re hoping to help.” For Crandall’s lab, those reminders transform statistics into scholarly service. In strengthening family bonds, the researchers partner with God to bring light into the world. “God has a huge hand in this work, because these are His children,” says Alexander.
“When parents are healthier their kids are more likely to have healthier family outcomes,” Poffenberger explains. “If we can improve one generation, then it has the ability to improve other generations as well.” These intergenerational effects highlight how even a single shift in communication can spark long-term change and impact future generations.
Driven by this intergenerational perspective, the lab prioritizes seeing the whole picture when creating health initiatives. “If we want to improve the health of an individual,” Poffenberger emphasizes, “we need to look at the bigger picture—not just that person but also who they’re around. It is so important to have that family focus.” As the researchers in the BFH Lab continue to shed light on the importance of health knowledge transference between generations, they illuminate a path forward that makes a brighter future possible for generations to come.