Chapter 18, Family Stress, Crises and Resilience

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Chapter 18, Family Stress, Crises and Resilience

• Theoretical Perspectives on Family Stress and
  Crisis
• What Precipitates a Family Crisis?
• The Course of a Family Crisis
• Theories of Family Crisis and Adaptation
• Meeting Crises Creatively
• Crisis Disaster or Opportunity

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Definition of Crisis

• Crisis involves change.
• A crisis is a turning point with the potential
  for positive effects, negative effects, or both.
• A crisis is a time of relative instability.

3
Types of Stressors

• Addition of a family member.
• Loss of a family member.
• Sudden change in income or social statues.
• Ongoing family conflict.
• Daily family hassles.

4
Types of Stressors

• Ambiguous loss
• physically absent but still part of the family
  (divorce, missing in action).
• physically present, but emotionally absent (drug
  /alcohol addiction).

5
Types of Stressors

• Caring for a dependent or disabled family member.
• Demoralizing events - job loss, unwanted
  pregnancy, poverty, homelessness, having ones
  child in foster care, mental illness, criminal
  prosecution.

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The Course of a Family Crisis

1. The event that caused the crisis.
2. Period of disorganization that follows.
3. Reorganization or recovery phase after the family
   reaches a low point.

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ABC-X Model of Family Crisis

• A - stressor event interacting with
• B -familys ability to cope with a crisis
  interacting with
• C - familys appraisal of the stressor event
  produces
• X - the crisis.

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Factors in Defininga Stressful Event

• The nature of the stressor.
• The degree of hardship or the kind of problems
  the stressor creates.
• The families previous successful experience in
  the event crises.
• Childhood legacies of adult family members.

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Meeting Crisis Creatively

• A positive outlook
• Spiritual Values and Support Groups
• Open, Supportive Communication
• Adaptability
• Informal Social Support
• An Extended Family
• Community Resources