PROMOTING RESILIENCE IN FAMILIES EXPERIENCING STRESS

All families experience many different life events, strains, and hassl es over their life spans. Stress emerges in the family when demands ex ceed capabilities. When this imbalance persists and becomes larger, ch ildren and other family members often show signs and symptoms of distr ess, including health-related problems. Pediatricians are increasingly called on to evaluate this situation and to be helpful to stressed fa milies and their children. A family assessment model is presented to a id pediatricians in helping families to identify the sources and degre e of stress they are experiencing, and even more importantly, to facil itate their ability to discover and use their own strengths and resour ces. The goal for the pediatrician is to promote balance and resilienc e in families, which, in turn, will contribute to better health and fu nctioning in children.