Do You Know Your Family Story?

Have you ever watched the TV show “Who do you think you are?” It’s a documentary series that takes celebrities on a journey to trace their family tree. I’ve seen a few episodes and people often become very moved as they discover details about their family history.

I’ve always been interested in my family tree. Just this past weekend I did a little research and discovered that many of my ancestors lived in the same area of Virginia where we recently moved. I had such fun reading stories from places around here where my family members lived so long ago. It got me wondering if there is a link between happiness and knowing your family history.

It looks like there just might be! Psychologists Marshall Duke and Robyn Fivush developed a “Do You Know?” scale to measure how much children knew about their families. Some questions include: Do you know where your grandparents grew up? Do you know where your mom and dad went to high school? Do you know where your parents met? Do you know an illness or something really terrible that happened in your family? Do you know the story of your birth?

They discovered that children who knew more about their family’s history had a stronger sense of control over their lives, had higher self-esteem, were more resilient, and were more likely to feel their families functioned successfully. The “Do You Know?” scale was actually the best predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.

It helps us all to know that we belong to something bigger than ourselves. Knowing your family history gives you a stronger sense of identity. Remembering the long line of people who came before you also helps you to keep things in perspective. Over time your family has had positive moments and has successfully bounced back from difficulties. You will, too.

Knowing your family narrative can increase your happiness and well-being. So go to ancestry.com to start researching your family tree. Ask your parents to tell you some stories. And by all means, share family stories with your children.