Family Stress Theory

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Family stress and resilience coincide with each other. Though stress usually has a negative connotation and resilience usually has a positive connotation, the amount of resilience a family has effects how they coping with the stressors of life. The stress and resilience of a family are also affected by the internal and eternal context of the family as well was what the family deems as normal life. Family Stress Family stress is interruptions in a family’s normal routine or function. Family stress is defined by Pauline Boss (2002) as “pressure or tension in the family system—a disturbance in the steady state of the family.” Stress can be positive or negative. For example, a positive stressor, eustress, would be having a child and a negative …show more content…

The first theory is the family stress theory. The original family stress theory was created before single parents families were normal and does not really take them into account (Boss 2002). Later on, more aspects were added to the family stress theory to make it more relevant. These include focusing on the connections in the family and introducing the aspect of family resilience (Boss 2002). The next theory is the ABC-X family theory. This model shows the cycle that therapists follow when a family comes in and is in stress. The A in this model is the event that caused the stress. The B is the resources the family has and the strengths they have. The C is the meaning that the family attaches to the event. The X is the amount of stress they have (Boss 2002). It is important for therapists not to let families go into crisis. If a family goes into crisis, it breaks. That creates one problem I see with this model. Before focusing on strengths and resources, therapists need to make sure the family is movable and not in crisis. This means seeing if family members are getting their basic needs are being met, such as eating and sleeping. After figuring that out, therapists look at the resources the family has (other family members, community help,

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