Intergenerational Influence on Hypertension Prevention and Management: A Discursive Paper

BACKGROUND: Hypertension remains a critical health disparity among Black older adults, driven by factors such as socioeconomic inequities, chronic stress and barriers to healthcare access. Within this population, family relationships, particularly intergenerational interactions, significantly influence health behaviours and the management of hypertension remain understudied. AIM: To explore intergenerational factors influencing hypertension prevention and management among Black older adults, focusing on how family relationships impact health behaviours, knowledge transfer and treatment adherence. METHODS: A discursive paper applying the Transtheoretical Model of Change and Self-Determination Theory as guiding frameworks to examine the role of family dynamics in hypertension management. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed papers published from 2015 to 2025. DISCUSSION: The role of family in health behaviours is examined, including the transmission of health knowledge, caregiving dynamics and emotional support. Both barriers and facilitators to effective hypertension management are identified, including cultural beliefs, community resources and the impact of intergenerational role modelling. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The discussion underscores the need for nurses to adopt family-centred approaches in hypertension management, considering the intergenerational influences on health outcomes. Recommendations for integrating these insights into clinical practice and nursing education are provided. CONCLUSION: Understanding the intergenerational context of hypertension management can enhance patient care by improving adherence and prevention strategies. Future research should further explore the role of family in managing hypertension among Black older adults.