WHY SOME FAMILIES THRIVE WHILE OTHERS STRUGGLE

WHEN a family faces stress, you can often see either their strengths or their struggles.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Some families grow stronger after a crisis, while others may have a harder time coping with the same situation.

Why does this happen? The family stress theory explains how families respond to challenges and why coping differs from home to home. The family stress theory began in the Great Depression, when sociologists saw how financial hardship changed households.

But it was sociologist Reuben Hill, who formally developed the theory in 1949. His work looked at the impact of World War II on families, particularh how separations and reunions shook family structures.

Hill discovered that families don’t break down or thrive simply because of what happens to them. Instead, three factors interact to shape the outcome:

1. The event itself: the crisis or stressor.

2. The resources available: financial, emotional, and social supports.

3. The family’s perception of the event: whether they see it as manageable, catastrophic or even an opportunity.

This became known as the ABC-X model of family stress. In short:

¢ A = the stressful event

= resources

© C = family perception

¢ X = the resulting outcome (a crisis or resilience)

Fast forward to modern life, and the theory is as relevant as ever. Whether it's a sudden job loss, a child’s illness, a divorce, or even global shocks like Covid-19, family stress plays out daily in millions of homes.