QU's Sesri and Difi organise seminar on family cohesion

Qatar University (QU)’s Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (Sesri), in collaboration with the Doha International Family Institute (Difi), organised a seminar on 'Understanding Family Cohesion in Qatar'.
The aim was to share and discuss the results of the study on family cohesion in Qatar, affirming the comprehensive approach to the family cohesion framework and continuing its implementation.
The seminar was attended by QU vice-president for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Ali al-Maadeed, Sesri director Prof Kaltham al-Ghanim, and Sesri executive director Dr Sharifa al-Emadi, along with executives from various government entities, academic researchers, stakeholders, and those interested in this field.
Prof al-Ghanim emphasised in her speech the importance of family cohesion as a fundamental mechanism for the stability and continuity of this cell in society.
It is a necessary requirement, she said, that enables the family to fulfil its functions towards its members and the community, adding that family cohesion is the cornerstone of the overall cohesion of society.
Prof al-Ghanim concluded that achieving this cohesion within the family is a shared responsibility between family members and society as a whole.
“We jointly put our efforts with Sesri to develop a family cohesion scale and preliminary test it on a representative sample of Qatari society,” said Dr al-Emadi. “This collaboration has produced an unpublished research report that establishes a new phase in national work related to monitoring and developing family cohesion indicators in Qatar.”
“Unlimited emotional family support is the cornerstone of positive family cohesion indicators enjoyed by the original Qatari society,” said Difi family research and policy director Dr Khalid al-Naama.
Senior Sesri researcher Dr Buthaina al-Khulaifi commented on the study's importance, saying: “This study is foundational for understanding and enhancing family cohesion in Qatar, providing decision-makers with valuable information based on scientific methodologies to increase family cohesion and solidarity.”
The seminar included an opening session with Prof al-Ghanim and Dr al-Emadi, followed by a session on *Study Presentation: An Overview of Family Cohesion in Qatar.
Dr al-Khulaifi discussed the aspects of family cohesion, and Sesri research project manager Rima Charbaji El-Kassem addressed the family cohesion index.
The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment.
The second session on 'Family Cohesion: Challenges and Opportunities' featured Dr al-Naama and Dr Asmaa al-Asiri, the acting director of the Therapeutic and Rehabilitative Services Department at the Behavioural Healthcare Centre.
Nasser Mubarak al-Hajri, manager of branches and external offices and family consultant at Wifaq, and Dr Mohamed Raheel, acting department head of Social Sciences at the QU’s College of Arts and Sciences, were also present.