Resilience in families in which a parent has been retrenched

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Family Resilience is a relatively new construct describing how families recover afterexperiencing stress and adversity. Defined within the salutogenic paradigm, resilienceimplies the ability to bounce back after being stretched or challenged, as well as beingable to rise above adversity and to survive stress. Using a cross-sectional, surveyresearch design the present study aimed to further explore and explicate those resiliencyfactors which enable families to maintain established patterns of functioning whenthreatened by risk factors. It also aimed to examine those recovery factors which fosterthe families ability to bounce back from crisis and disruption. Teachers who had acceptedthe voluntary severance package from the South African Department of Educationbetween 1996 and 1998 were approached to take part in this study on behalf of theirfamily. Thirty participants completed a biographical questionnaire as well as the FamilyIndex of Regenerativity and Adaptation (FIRA-G) which measures the major componentsof the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin &Thompson, 1991). Results confirmed the relationship between family stressors, familystrains and family distress, implying that if stressors and strains are not managed, theypile up, deplete resources and lead to family tension and stress (Lavee, McCubbin &Patterson, 1985; Lavee et al. 1987; McCubbin & Patterson, 1983). Results alsohighlighted the protective nature of good financial management, suggesting that there aremeasurable factors which act as crisis-meeting resources, diminish the negative impactand degree of the stressor and ultimately foster resilience and facilitate recovery. Finally,social support was highlighted as a resilience variable. Family schema (encompassingconcepts of reframing and spiritual support) remains one of the crucial factors whichcontributes towards, firstly, the resistance of decay in the face of stressors, and secondly,which facilitates the recovery trajectory. It is maintained that this could be one of the mostcrucial factors for ongoing investigation in resiliency research.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University