engleski

EXAMINING FAMILY RISK AND RESILIENCE: A MEASURE OF STRESS AND ADAPTATION

Family resilience is a dynamic process that includes positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity. Although most authors agree that risk, protective mechanisms and a positive outcome are three components inherent to the process of family resilience, there is still no consensus on how to define and measure these components. Many questionnaires exist that measure the protective mechanisms yet there are very few questionnaires that measure both family risk and positive outcomes. The aim of this paper is to present a novel approach on measuring risk and positive outcomes in the context of family resilience. In this conceptualization of family resilience family risk is defined as a sum of disruptive life changes that have an effect on the family. A positive family outcome is defined as a satisfactory adaptation to a disruptive family change. Methods: A new measure has been constructed based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (Holmes & Rahe, 1967). Family members reported events they have experienced in the past year, level of disturbance (disruptive effect) for the family and the level of their satisfaction with the family's adjustment to this event. Two separate forms of the questionnaire have been created: one for adults and one for adolescents. The questionnaire has been tested on a pilot study sample of 150 families from a high school in Ivanić Grad, Croatia. In every family a parent/guardian and a high school student have filled out this questionnaire. Data analysis is still in progress and obtained results will be discussed in the presentation. This study has been carried out as part of the project Specific characteristics of families at risk: contribution to complex interventions planning (FamResPlan) that is supported by the Croatian Science Foundation (project IP-2014-09-9515).

FAMILY RISK, RESILIENCE, STRESS, ADAPTATION

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