Tomorrow, we will examine theories of family stress and coping. The major theory we will be using is the Double ABC-X model, which is described extensively in Chapter 1 of our textbook. We will also cover closely related theories (see the links section in the right-hand column). We will address four areas:

Modified to reflect the order in which we actually discussed the topics (July 17, 2007).

(1) Discussing why theories are useful in the first place.

(2) Clarifying our definitions of "stress" and related terms.

Within family stress theories, we will examine:

(3) How two people can experience seemingly the same exact situation, yet react very differently (also as depicted in the "Sisters" video); and

(4) What does it mean to say that a stressful event disrupts one's family system?

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(1) For analyzing the purposes of having theories, let's look at my theories page in the links section.

(2) Let's start our coverage of stress by defining some terms. The word "stress" comes up in somewhat different contexts, so let's be clear what we mean. Three main terms are depicted below in bold.

Stressful Life Events

Definition. Some event, either objectively verified or self-reported on a life-events scale (Cohen uses the term “environmental” perspective in the document in the links section). The term "stressor," which is discussed on page 7 of the textbook, also fits here.

Research examples. College students in a community with a serial killer at large vs. students at a comparable university with no serial killer (Biernat & Herkov, 1994, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology).

Adults who had lost a spouse or child in a motor-vehicle accident vs. matched control adults (Lehman et al., 1987, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology).

Other studies use checklists of various types of life events and test if accumulation of many events is associated with distress or illness
(CRISYS measure, see links section).

Stress Appraisals/Perceived Stress

Defintion. The meaning or interpretation one attaches to a stressful event, particularly in terms of whether the event threatens one’s emotional or physical well-being, is uncontrollable, etc. See also the bottom of p. 12 in the textbook.

Research examples.New mothers were asked their degree of endorsement of statements such as, “I often have the feeling that I cannot handle things very well,” and “I feel trapped by my responsibilities as a parent” (Mulsow et al., 2002, Journal of Marriage and Family).

U.S. military families relocated to Germany were surveyed on their perceptions of the predictability of the situation, the degree to which they were committed to the Army, etc. (Lavee et al., 1985, JMF).

Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (which also appears to spill over into distress; available via the link entitled Questionnaire Instrument Compendium).

Folkman, Lazarus, and colleagues (1986, JPSP) distinguished between primary appraisal (what is potentially at stake, such as physical harm, damage to reputation) and secondary appraisal (can one do something about or cope with situation?).

Distress

Definition. An emotional reaction to the stressful event and its appraisal, such as becoming anxious or depressed. The term "stress" should not be used interchangeably with "anxiety" or "depression." The latter two terms can be considered indicators of "distress."

Finally, on pp. 13-14 of the McKenry and Price text, the distinction between the terms "stress" and "crisis" is clarified.

(3) How two people can experience the same event, yet react differently.

As we see in the both the original ABC-X model and the Double ABC-X model, a number of processes are theorized to occur between the initial exposure to the stressor event and the ultimate state of adaptation, disruption, or crisis befalling individuals and families. The transition from the A(a) components to the X(x) components is said to depend on one's resources (B, b), perceptions (C, c), and, in the Double model, coping.

According to p. 12 of the text, "Individual or personal resources include financial (economic well-being), educational (problem-solving abilities, information), health (physical and emotional well-being), and psychological resources (self-esteem)." The authors of that chapter also identify family-system resources (adaptability and cohesiveness) and community resources.

Whether individuals and families perceive (or appraise) potentially stressful events in a relatively optimistic or relatively pessimistic light also may determine the course of the A-X transition (pp. 12-13).

The concept of resiliency -- how people can continue to thrive in the face of adversity -- is a very popular topic in HDFS, psychology, and related disciplines (see here and here).

(4) What does it mean to say that a family system has been disrupted?

In preparing to teach this class, I did a lot of reading in advance, and I kept coming across the idea of disruption (and restoration) of family-system functioning:

“According to McCubbin and Patterson (1982), the purpose of a family’s postcrisis or poststress adjustment is to reduce or eliminate the disruptiveness in the family system and restore homeostasis” (McKenry & Price, 2005, p. 16).

Helms and Demo (Chapter 15 in M&P book) write about "everyday hassles," which are less dramatic than major events, yet can nevertheless be annoying. These authors note that unexpected daily hassles “… often disrupt the flow of everyday life and thus add to family stress” (p. 356). They also allude to “disruption in [people's] everyday routines” (p. 365).

Reuben Hill's book Families Under Stress, which we covered during Monday's class, alludes to how in a time of crisis, “…the family’s role patterns are always sharply disturbed” (p. 10).

Finally, famed Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson has a quote about ecological systems that I will read to the class (it's too long to add here on the blog).

All of these quotes make me think of cogs in a machine. If one cog begins to break down, all the others will also be disrupted.



As stated in the family systems theory document in the links section, the pieces in a system "do not exist in isolation from one another and 'movement' in any one part of the 'system' will affect all the rest of the parts of the system" (added after class, July 17, 2007).

As another example, in severe power outages, disruption to one power station can start a chain reaction that might cause a blackout for entire large regions of the country.

Studying the active functioning of families -- including all the "moving parts" -- would appear to be a major challenge, but it's what the theories seem to call for.