This dissertation consists of four related chapters including an introductory overview of all four chapters, a report on family needs, a report on family quality of life, and a summary of implications for the conceptual framework. Chapter 1, the introductory overview, presents background information of Taiwan and describes the family quality of life conceptual framework as the context of the research. It further summarizes information in chapters 2 to 4. Using descriptive and ANOVA results from a survey study, Chapter 2 investigates family quality of life---the outcome in the conceptual framework. Chapter 3, on the other hand, addresses family needs---the input factor in the conceptual framework. Based on findings from the previous two chapters, Chapter 4 revisits the conceptual framework and discusses the relationship between family needs and outcomes. |