Building Family Resilience
For people working with children and families as well as those concerned with family and child policies, how families respond to challenges and threats of their wellbeing remains a major concern to them. There are families that manage such problems positively while there are those that are negatively affected under similar circumstances. Resilience is thus a concept that researchers developed to ensure that families are able to adapt to adverse issues in life. Resilience has its roots derived from two disciplines, namely psychology and physiology. The concept was first introduced in developmental psychopathology, which showed how well children functioned in a high risk family (Becvar, 2012). The concept was later accepted in 1990s by researchers who studied family coping and stress. Perspectives of resilience especially on families have been evolving in the recent past. According to a traditional approach, the resilience of the entire family is a sum of individual member’s resilience (Becvar, 2012). This means that if all individuals have high resilience, the family has a high resilience to challenges and threats. A modern perspective shows that family resilience is relational processes facilitating even growth and family survival under adverse conditions (Boss, 2014). Generally, resilient families are able to positively respond to stress in outstanding ways which depend on the life or developmental stage, length of the challenges, and combination of protective and risk factors. There are stressors that a family may be resilient from while there are those that may be challenging for it. This paper discusses family stressors and various ways of building family resilience.
Definitions and Concepts
According to Gauvin, Lefebvre, and Malo (2014), family resilience is a modern concept that is still undergoing modifications: It originates from individual resilience, which was studied by researchers in the past. Previously, researchers studying resilience focused on children’s attributes, which are associated with the ability to positively adapt to adverse circumstances such as academic incompetence. West, Usher and Foster (2011) state that a key element in family resilience is the ability to successfully engage with risks. Families are considered resilient after they encounter challenges and have been able to successfully cope with the adversity. As a result, researchers have laid focus on various factors of family strengths. In research conducted in the past, the terms used to describe resilience in children were ‘invincible’ and ‘invulnerable’. DeHaan, Hawley and Deal (2013) show that resilience in the modern world is viewed as the ability to adapt to threats of wellbeing. Additionally, it has been noted by contemporary theorists that resilience is a state that keeps changing depending on situations facing a family (DeHaan et al., 2013). A family may be able to cope with some challenges and unable to cope with others.
Becvar (2012) notes that family resilience is a dynamic process that encompasses positive adaptations during adversity. Family resilience is well understood by relating it to other concepts such as protective and risk factors. Risk factors increase the chances of getting negative outcomes while protective factors form major interactions with risk factors to reduce the impact of negative outcomes. Chapin (2011) posits that another common term used in relation to family resilience is vulnerability, which refers to factors increasing the likelihood of negative incomes when risks are present. Vulnerability and protective factors both interact to determine the extent of a family’s resilience to challenges. Distal and proximal variable are also other concepts used to describe resilience. Proximal variables have impacts that are directly experienced while distal variables have those that are indirectly experienced (Chapin, 2011).
Stressors and Their Impacts
Gauvin, Lefebvre and Malo (2014) opine that poverty in families has led to various negative effects on children. Such adverse outcomes include; poor mental health, poor academic achievement, poor mental health, and reduced cognitive ability among others. This also affects parents because they are not in a good position to provide their children with what they deserve. For instance, they may not afford proper nutrition during early childhood, infancy and the antenatal period. Malnutrition also results thus affecting the readiness of children to learn in school. Other effects of poor nutrition are; poor social adjustment, behaviour, and mental health (Gauvin et al., 2014).
Additionally, parents facing economic challenges tend to have a diminished parental mental health (Hetherington and Blechman, 2014). The result is reduced ability to monitor, discipline, or nurture children appropriately. Parents also face reduced expectations of the life of their children. They tend to lose hope because they feel that they are not providing enough to support their children in pursuit of success (Hetherington and Blechman, 2014). Children may also feel hopelessness if they lack most needs as a result of poverty.
Landau (2013) states that single parenthood also poses risks to children’s adjustment and parental wellbeing. Children who are brought up by single parents tend to have a poorer academic performance, display psychological distress, and increased chances of non-marital childbearing. Single mothers also have a poorer mental ability than their peers with partners. This affects their ability to effectively raise children thus affecting their development. Generally, there are advantages of children being raised by both parents because they partner in parenting functions which include monitoring, supervision, and disciplining children. Walsh (2012) shows that children benefit from having a male role model. A single parent faces challenges raising children because they may not be in a position to offer the best as compared to if they were both. As a result, children develop some behaviour which is not quite pleasant thus causing challenges to the family (Walsh, 2012).
Teenage childbearing is mostly associated with negative outcomes for children and the mother. For instance, teenage pregnancy in most cases curtails schooling thus affecting performance and achievement. The problem is also associated with psychological distress and depression to most parents and children (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). Rapid-repeat childbearing and lack of employment also cause depression to most mothers. Teenage mothers have fewer skills of parenting. For example, such parents are less responsive and sensitive to children thus tending to display physically intrusive behaviour or using punitive discipline (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). As a result children face adjustment problems while growing up. When pre-pregnancy measures of family circumstances, behaviour, and academic ability are taken, families do not experience challenges raising children.
According to Power et al. (2016), another major challenge that may affect families is illness of a member of the family. If one member has a terminal disease or an illness which keeps recurring, such a family lives under stress. This is because the family faces financial constraints especially in catering for expensive hospital bills or special medication. Children may also be negatively affected because they develop a fear that they may lose such a parent. The sick parent is not also in a good position to monitor or discipline children (Hetherington and Blechman, 2014). Both parents also feel stressed because there is a fear that the sick one may not be in a position to work; thus, end up in early retirement or losing the job.
Lietz and Strength (2011) assert that family violence is a major stressor in most families in New Zealand. Family violence may be in the form of sexual, psychological or physical nature. It mostly involves emotional deprivation, intimidation, and fear. Such problems affect interpersonal relationships between children, partners, and siblings. Other significant people who play the role of family members such as guardians and house helps are also affected (Lietz and Strength 2011). Violence in families may occur in the form of sibling abuse, partner/spouse abuse, elder neglect/abuse or child neglect/abuse. In New Zealand, family violence affects how family members participate in social activities (Lietz and Strength 2011). High costs are incurred by affected individuals, such as economic and social costs.
Disability is also a problem affecting families in most regions. Impairments are generally intellectual, psychiatric, physical, or sensory (Jones, Gutman, & Platt, 2013). Taking care of such individuals is quite challenging because they need a lot of attention. It may also result to financial challenges because someone may be required to be employed to assist in taking care of the physically challenged person while others are at work. Children with disability may also require special needs in education or may also find have poor academic performance. Parents also face challenges raising such children because they require a lot of attention, which may not be possible due to tight schedule at work (Jones et al., 2013). Such children may develop low self esteem or other problems which may affect the entire family at large.
Strategies to Develop Family Resilience
Family Organizational Structures
According to Lietz (2013), modern families with diverse resources and structures should organize their relational networks and household in such a way that they can meet various challenges in life. Resilience may come as a result of economic resources, connectedness, social resources, and flexible structures. Increasing adaptability and flexibility in a family is helpful in building resilience because it enables individuals to be open to adaptive changes (Lietz, 2013). By doing so, there are increased abilities to rebound. Families should seek help navigate recalibrating relationships, and change of family organizational structure so as to meet new conditions that may arise (Lietz, 2013). To restore stability, families need to counterbalance and buffer disruptive changes. Vulnerable family members such as children need assurance of predictability, dependability, and continuity. Some of the activities that may help in such times include daily routines such as shared meals and celebration of life events to strengthen family bond (Lietz, 2013). During challenging times parents should offer children guidance, protection, and nurturance.
Provision of Economics and social resources
Masten and Monn (2015) note that faith congregations, social and kin networks, and community groups can be helpful during challenging times because they help to provide emotional and practical support. There are millions of families facing economic hardships that have adversely affected their families. The government should allocate funds to build social amenities that can be used to train and help affected family members to become resilient. This may involve conducting workshops, training programs, or seminars to educate affected families (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). Through such programs, the government will have played a major role in helping such families to quickly adapt during challenging times. Other non-affected families will also learn how to prepare or react during such adverse times. Funds can also be offered to families affected by challenges such as poverty, death of a parent or sibling, or physical challenges.
Increasing Connectedness
Connectedness is an essential element in family relational resilience. A prolonged adversity or crisis may shatter family cohesion thus leaving family members unable to rely on each other (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). Resilience in such a case can be strengthened by mutual collaboration, commitment, and support in troubled times. Couples should discuss their relationship in terms of collaboration or mutual support without regards to each individual’s independence (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). Family members and spouses should respect each other’s boundaries, separateness or individual differences. This enables them to develop various coping styles and reactions during adverse events. During parental absence in incidences such as divorce, death or distance separations, vital connections can be sustained through phone calls, photos, internet contact or keepsakes (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). In cases of immigrant families, resilience and adaptation are achieved by maintaining connection with community and kin.
Pleasurable Interactions and Emotional Expression
Open communication that is supported by tolerance for differences, empathy, and trust enable family members to freely share their feelings which may be aroused by chronic stress and crisis events (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). . People have different ways of responding to issues, for example. A family member may continue grieving for a loss while others have moved on (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). By expressing such emotions, other family members will help to talk to the affected member.
Nichols (2013) states that to enhance relational resilience; therapists can help family members by facilitating empathic support, processing and difficult feelings. During intense emotions, there are high chances that conflicts will erupt and probably go out of control. Generally, masculine stereotypes do not allow men to show fear, sadness, destructive behaviours, or vulnerability. Such stereotypes may hinder them from expressing emotions thus leading to depression. Visiting therapists to share emotions will enable such family members to feel relieved (Nichols, 2013).
Walsh (2013) states that families should engage in meaningful interactions to enhance connectedness and to relieve stress. This helps affected people to find laughter and humour during challenging moments. When a family is faced with problems, struggles or suffering, it is important for them to have time for respite. This enables them to share good experiences for joy, fun, and positive connection. It also helps to revitalize people’s energies and spirits (Nichols, 2013).
Communication Processes
Communication processes help to improve family resilience by making things clear during crisis situations, preparedness, encouraging emotion sharing, and making collaborations in problem solving matters (Masten and Monn, 2015). Congruent and clear messages help in facilitating effective family functioning. In stressful and crisis conditions, communication helps to solve issues. Ambiguity in such cases blocks mastery, closeness of family members, and understanding (Masten and Monn, 2015). When people share truth about challenging times such as family violence of abuse, it makes it makes it easy to recover. Saltzman et al. (2013) note that poor communication, secrecy and denial by affected members impede recovery. It is, therefore important for such families to be encouraged to talk about issues affecting them. To avoid stressful incidences, families should avoid threatening or painful issues. They should talk about such issues only when they are certain that they will occur, which helps to reduce stress among children or depression in parents (Saltzman et al., 2013). Caregivers and parents should play a role in informing children and other family members of situations by being open to them. They may also be encouraged to discuss their concerns or questions as a way of mental preparation (Masten and Monn, 2015). Children may also be guided on ways of sharing information to avoid stress.
Increasing Preparedness and Collaborative Problem Solving
Creative brainstorming helps to expand for overcoming adversity. According to Simpson and Jones (2013), Conflict management and shared decision making is helpful in negotiating differences among family members. When families face stressing conditions, they should set attainable goals and clear priorities to solve such issues. Practitioners should facilitate efforts to use failure as a learning experience and to build on success (Simpson and Jones, 2013). Being proactive enables families to build resilience such that they are able to withstand adversity. Families should learn how to prepare for avert crises and anticipated problems. This involves encouraging family member to consider other options to enable them to become resilience to unforeseen challenges. When challenges happen, family members should also be encouraged to seek various opportunities for enabling them experience growth in other aspects of life. When one member of the family faces a problem, it should be the duty of everyone to solve it (Ministry of Social Development, 2017). This helps to ease stress and also enables the member feel cared for by others. Doing so hastens the recovery process in addition to making such families strong enough to face other challenges in future.
Conclusion
As discussed in this paper, family resilience is an issue that has attracted attention of researchers in the recent past due to the high rate of prevalence of families to adverse conditions in the contemporary world. Some of the major stressors in families include lone parenthood, divorce, poverty, physical challenges, illness, family violence and teenage childbearing among others. Such challenges lead to stress or depression among affected members of the family. Some of the strategies identified to build resilience include; preparedness and collaborative problem solving, connectedness, pleasurable interactions and emotional expression, communication processes, family organizational structures, and provision of Economics and social resources. As such, combining a number of these strategies helps increase family resilience. The best strategy will include a combination that best works based on specific family characteristics.
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