Family resilience is a concept that has wide and deep roots, ranging from the development of the concept of individual resilience to the postulates of general systems theory, including family systems theory and related therapeutic models as well as studies on family stress and coping. Integration of these roots into a comprehensive theory remains incomplete. Consequently, numerous ambiguities in the conceptualization and operationalization of the concept of family resilience remain. This has important implications for both research and the application of the concept to practice. This article aims to contribute to the clarification and understanding of this evolving concept by reviewing the foundations upon which the concept of family resilience has emerged and has been developing. The work connects family resilience to the concepts of individual resilience, as well as, community resilience, presenting key challenges but also possible solutions in operationalizing indicators of risk, protective factors, and good outcomes. This article discusses the influence of context and dominant social discourses in defining both risk exposure and family adaptation, highlighting community engagement as a core resilience resource. The article concludes by presenting the challenges that remain in the field of family resilience research, especially in light of the relevance of this concept to interventions and practice pertaining to child and youth care practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Family resilience is a concept that has wide and deep roots, ranging from the development of the concept of individual resilience to the postulates of general systems theory, including family systems theory and related therapeutic models as well as studies on family stress and coping. Integration of these roots into a comprehensive theory remains incomplete. Consequently, numerous ambiguities in the conceptualization and operationalization of the concept of family resilience remain. This has important implications for both research and the application of the concept to practice. This article aims to contribute to the clarification and understanding of this evolving concept by reviewing the foundations upon which the concept of family resilience has emerged and has been developing. The work connects family resilience to the concepts of individual resilience, as well as, community resilience, presenting key challenges but also possible solutions in operationalizing indicators of risk, protective factors, and good outcomes. This article discusses the influence of context and dominant social discourses in defining both risk exposure and family adaptation, highlighting community engagement as a core resilience resource. The article concludes by presenting the challenges that remain in the field of family resilience research, especially in light of the relevance of this concept to interventions and practice pertaining to child and youth care practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Ljetopis Studijskog Centra Socijalnog Rada, 10(2), 2003, pp.243-254.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
Place of publication:
Zagreb
This article presents the basic features of the social and medical problem of Alzheimer's disease, well as the consequential difficulties in family functioning. [Article in Croatia].
This article presents the basic features of the social and medical problem of Alzheimer's disease, well as the consequential difficulties in family functioning. [Article in Croatia].
Ljetopis Studijskog Centra Socijalnog Rada, 10(2), 2003, pp.187-195.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
Place of publication:
Zagreb
The author looks at the situation of under-aged children of disabled family members who, due to insufficient social support and care, have been made the main and sometimes only source of assistance to their parents or family members. Although results of systematic research about the kind of influence such demands and family obligations have had on the quality of life and experience of these children do not exist, practice has confirmed that the community’s deficiencies in caring for its disabled members often bring about the cummulation of various risk and stress factors in the growing and maturing process of disabled persons’ children. The author also highlights the importance of conducting research of this group in order to organise more effective and better established support. [Article in Croatian].
The author looks at the situation of under-aged children of disabled family members who, due to insufficient social support and care, have been made the main and sometimes only source of assistance to their parents or family members. Although results of systematic research about the kind of influence such demands and family obligations have had on the quality of life and experience of these children do not exist, practice has confirmed that the community’s deficiencies in caring for its disabled members often bring about the cummulation of various risk and stress factors in the growing and maturing process of disabled persons’ children. The author also highlights the importance of conducting research of this group in order to organise more effective and better established support. [Article in Croatian].
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, young carers, childrens rights, families;
Children and Society, 26(1), January 2012, pp.51-62.
Publisher:
Wiley
... with both biological parents reported higher levels of life satisfaction than children living with a single parent or parent–step-parent. Children in joint physical custody reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction than their counterparts in other types of non-intact families. Difficulties in communicating with parents were strongly associated with less life satisfaction but did
Children living in less fortunate economic circumstances can be expected to be less satisfied with life and the association between single parenthood and reduced life satisfaction may be partly due to economic hardship. This paper examines differences in life satisfaction among 184,496 children in different family structures in 36 western countries. Findings revealed that children living with both biological parents reported higher levels of life satisfaction than children living with a single parent or parent–step-parent. Children in joint physical custody reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction than their counterparts in other types of non-intact families. Difficulties in communicating with parents were strongly associated with less life satisfaction but did not mediate the relation between family structure and life satisfaction. Children in the Nordic countries characterised by strong welfare systems reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction in all living arrangements except in single father households. While such life events as divorce or single motherhood may be heavily stigmatised in some countries and certain segments within countries, they may well be relatively meaningless in other social contexts. This may be a major source of the considerable variation in life satisfaction among children in living with single mothers or step-parents in different countries.
Subject terms:
mental health, poverty, quality of life, children, families;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Bulgaria, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, Turkey, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
Ljetopis Studijskog Centra Socijalnog Rada, 10(2), 2003, pp.229-241.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
Place of publication:
Zagreb
The authors give a descriptive analysis of characteristics concerning the removal of 34 children from 19 families in a period of three years (2000-2002), as well as of the practical difficulties occurring during social welfare interventions. The results indicate that children have mostly been removed from repeatedly problematic families, which did not receive adequate help and support in time and that the centre for social welfare is confronted with a series of practical difficulties in dealing with child protection. In conclusion, the authors stress the need for encouraging the establishment of private social welfare service, especially in the field of providing support and aid for families in which children’s normal development has been threatened. [Article in Croatian].
The authors give a descriptive analysis of characteristics concerning the removal of 34 children from 19 families in a period of three years (2000-2002), as well as of the practical difficulties occurring during social welfare interventions. The results indicate that children have mostly been removed from repeatedly problematic families, which did not receive adequate help and support in time and that the centre for social welfare is confronted with a series of practical difficulties in dealing with child protection. In conclusion, the authors stress the need for encouraging the establishment of private social welfare service, especially in the field of providing support and aid for families in which children’s normal development has been threatened. [Article in Croatian].
Subject terms:
intervention, social welfare, vulnerable children, child protection, families;
Revija Za Socijalnu Politiku Journal of Social Policy, 12(1), January 2005, pp.1-21.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
The goals of this research were to examine various features of informal and formal support to families with children, considering sources, type and perceived quality, and determine whether those informal and formal features differ with family structure and parents' sex. The sample was 384 parents from 2-parent families and 317 from 1-parent families from the 4 largest Croatian cities. Data on type of support (financial, material, practical and emotional) and sources of support received by natural network members, as well as on received and necessary forms of state support to families in money or services, were collected. Factor analysis was used to determine latent dimensions of parents' satisfaction. Dimensions were called satisfaction with the system of formal support to families, by the parents from 2-parent families. Single parents mainly receive more help from the formal system. However, the data show that a large part of needs for formal support remains unsatisfied in both types of families. The results are discussed in the context of obstructions in the realisation of social rights. The determined differences between the sexes show that single fathers tend to retain gender-wise
The goals of this research were to examine various features of informal and formal support to families with children, considering sources, type and perceived quality, and determine whether those informal and formal features differ with family structure and parents' sex. The sample was 384 parents from 2-parent families and 317 from 1-parent families from the 4 largest Croatian cities. Data on type of support (financial, material, practical and emotional) and sources of support received by natural network members, as well as on received and necessary forms of state support to families in money or services, were collected. Factor analysis was used to determine latent dimensions of parents' satisfaction. Dimensions were called satisfaction with the system of formal support to families, with the support of persons close to them and with the support of the other parent and their family. Results confirmed the connection of family structure with receipt of informal and formal support. Single parenthood generally enhances the probability of receiving more support from various sources of the informal network, apart from the support of the other parent and their parents, which is largely received by the parents from 2-parent families. Single parents mainly receive more help from the formal system. However, the data show that a large part of needs for formal support remains unsatisfied in both types of families. The results are discussed in the context of obstructions in the realisation of social rights. The determined differences between the sexes show that single fathers tend to retain gender-wise stereotypical relations towards requesting and receiving help, although in terms of gender they play an atypical role in the provision of care for children. [In Croatian with summary in English.]
Subject terms:
parents, social networks, single parent families, families, gender;
Revija Za Socijalnu Politiku Journal of Social Policy, 2,, 2000, pp.131-145.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
The authors analyse concepts and problems in research of the work-family interface i.e the interrelation of the family and work stress and strain and the influence work-family conflict on work and life-satisfaction and the health of the individual.
The authors analyse concepts and problems in research of the work-family interface i.e the interrelation of the family and work stress and strain and the influence work-family conflict on work and life-satisfaction and the health of the individual.
Subject terms:
parent-child relations, quality of life, stress, families, employment;
Revija Za Socijalnu Politiku Journal of Social Policy, 6(3-4), 1999, pp.241-258.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
In this article, the authors examine and juxtapose the results of demographic, sociological and socio-psychological research of fertility motivation and behaviour with an aim to define the concepts and characteristics of some aspects of fertility behaviour and to determine the cause of reduced fertility in the economically developed countries of the West.
In this article, the authors examine and juxtapose the results of demographic, sociological and socio-psychological research of fertility motivation and behaviour with an aim to define the concepts and characteristics of some aspects of fertility behaviour and to determine the cause of reduced fertility in the economically developed countries of the West.
Subject terms:
sociology, comparative studies, developing countries, families, family planning;