FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND COPING WITH CHANGE - A LONGITUDINAL TEST OF THE CIRCUMPLEX MODEL

The Circumplex Model of family functioning suggests that families diff er according to their ability to adapt to change. The aim of this stud y was to test two hypotheses from the model in the context of a longit udinal study of families experiencing geographical relocation. Questio nnaires were completed on three occasions by employees and their partn ers during the process of relocation. Results indicated that there was no relationship between family functioning at Time 1 and subsequent p sychological well-being of either employees or their partners. There w as some evidence that families who made minor changes in response to t heir move adapted more successfully than those who did not change or m ade major changes. The results highlight possible limitations of the C ircumplex Model and the need for further longitudinal studies of famil y adaptation.