Evidence base
Genogram research: studies and evidence base
Quick answer
Are genograms evidence-based?
Since Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson published their first genogram book in 1985, researchers across multiple disciplines have written about how genograms contribute to clinical assessment, treatment planning, and training.
While genograms began in family therapy, the literature now spans medicine, nursing, genetic counseling, social work, and public health. Publications range from descriptions of how to collect family medical histories to methods for training new clinicians in family systems thinking.
Research note
Key research areas
Family therapy
Medicine and family practice
Nursing
Training and cultural competence
Genograms as a research method
Specialized genograms
Selected research and publications
| Year | Authors and title | Published in | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Bowen, M. Family Therapy in Clinical Practice | Jason Aronson | The family systems theory that genograms are built to map. |
| 1980 | Jolly, W., Froom, J., & Rosen, M.G. The Genogram | Journal of Family Practice, 10(2), 251-255 | One of the earliest published descriptions of the genogram as a clinical tool in family practice, for recording family structure and health information. |
| 1986 | Bannerman, C. The Genogram and Elderly Patients | Journal of Family Practice, 23(5), 426-427 | Genogram use in geriatric care for understanding family support systems and medical histories. |
| 1988 | Like, R.C., Rogers, J., & McGoldrick, M. Reading and Interpreting Genograms: A Systematic Approach | Journal of Family Practice, 26(4), 407-412 | A step-by-step method for analyzing genogram data in clinical settings. |
| 1995 | Hardy, K.V., & Laszloffy, T.A. The Cultural Genogram: Key to Training Culturally Competent Family Therapists | Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21(3), 227-237 | Introduced the cultural genogram as a training tool for cultural awareness among family therapy trainees. |
| 1998 | Watts, C., & Shrader, E. The Genogram: A New Research Tool to Document Patterns of Decision-Making, Conflict and Vulnerability Within Households | Health Policy and Planning, 13(4), 459-464 | Describes adapting the genogram as a qualitative research method for studying decision-making and conflict within households in health research. |
| 1999 | DeMaria, R., Weeks, G., & Hof, L. Focused Genograms: Intergenerational Assessment of Individuals, Couples, and Families | Brunner/Mazel (now Routledge) | Specialized genogram types (e.g., sexuality, anger) for focused therapeutic assessment. |
| 2013 | Wright, L.M., & Leahey, M. Nurses and Families: A Guide to Family Assessment and Intervention (6th ed.) | F.A. Davis Company | A widely used nursing text covering the genogram as a core family assessment tool. |
| 2020 | McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R., & Petry, S. Genograms: Assessment and Treatment (4th ed.) | W.W. Norton & Company | The definitive clinical text on genograms and the standard symbol system, with contemporary applications and diverse family structures. |
Common research themes
Fuller family information
Collaborative assessment
Pattern recognition
Relationship quality
Educational value
Cultural adaptation
Where to find genogram research
Databases
- PubMed: medical and nursing research
- PsycINFO: psychology and therapy research
- Google Scholar: broad academic search
- Social Work Abstracts: social work literature
- CINAHL: nursing and allied health
Key journals
- Family Process: family therapy flagship journal
- Journal of Marital and Family Therapy: AAMFT official journal
- Journal of Family Nursing: family nursing research
- The Family Journal: counseling and therapy
- Journal of Genetic Counseling: genetic applications
Search terms to try
Genogram research: questions
Is there research supporting the use of genograms?
Yes, though most of it is descriptive. Published work describes how to construct and read genograms, their use in family practice, nursing and family therapy training, and their use as a research tool for studying households. Controlled outcome studies are scarce. Research appears in journals spanning family therapy, medicine, nursing, and social work.
Are genograms evidence-based?
Genograms are best described as evidence-informed tools with strong theoretical foundations in Bowenian family systems theory. Randomized controlled trials are rare (as with many assessment tools); the support comes mainly from clinical literature, qualitative work and training studies across several disciplines.
What fields use genograms in research?
Genograms are used in research across family therapy, genetic counseling, primary care medicine, nursing, social work, psychiatry, and public health. They serve as both research tools (for data collection) and subjects of research (studying their effectiveness).
How are genograms used in medical research?
In medical research, genograms help identify hereditary patterns of disease, study family health histories, assess genetic risks, and understand how families cope with illness. They are used in family practice, genetic counseling and chronic illness research, alongside the pedigree charts that genetics uses.
Where can I find genogram research articles?
Genogram research is published in journals like Family Process, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Journal of Family Nursing, The Family Journal, and medical journals. PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO are good databases for finding peer-reviewed articles.
Further Reading
- McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R., & Petry, S. — Genograms: Assessment and Treatment (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company, 2020
- Bowen, M. — Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. Jason Aronson, 1978
- McGoldrick, M., & Gerson, R. — Genograms in Family Assessment. W.W. Norton & Company, 1985
- DeMaria, R., Weeks, G., & Twist, M. — Focused Genograms: Intergenerational Assessment of Individuals, Couples, and Families (2nd ed.). Routledge, 2017