Family Life: Adaptive Events and Resources

For a long time the attention to the family it was centralized in the disease, directing actions towards diagnosis and treatment. The presence of family events was conceived as a traumatic experience, a crisis trigger, conceived as a potentiator of family health problems. At present, with salutogenic models, this conception is modified, we begin to see the family with natural ability to resist and rebuild despite the experience of adversity (Castillo, 2010).

In the investigations carried out, it was found that some of the families who experienced traumatic situations they did not develop alterations in family health. It is undeniable that most families, faced with normative and para-normative events, are capable of learning and benefiting from the experience, depending on the coping process.

In this Online Psychology article we are going to discover the adaptive resources in events in family life.

Index

1. Protective resources of families
2. Method that was carried out
3. Results obtained from the investigation
4. More results obtained from the study
5. Social support
6. Families have adaptive resources
7. Types of supports
8. Instrumental support
9. The availability of social support in families
10. Conclusions

There are families that have had effective coping with stressful events and circumstances in family life. The family has the ability to adapt and resist life events with surprising strength, managing to overcome the situation and emerge stronger (Walsh, 2004).

Martínez (2003) defines the “protective resources” of the family, as the conditions or environments capable of favor the development of individuals or groups and, in many cases, reduce the effects of circumstances unfavorable.

These resources are existing characteristics in families which operates to mitigate the negative effects of events and protect family health.

The purpose of the research is to evaluate adaptive resources and social support, as protective resources against the occurrence of normative and para-normative events. To fulfill this objective, two instruments were applied: the Family Adaptive Resources Assessment Test and the Family Social Support Test.

A descriptive and cross-sectional research which was applied in the provinces of Havana and Ciego de Ávila. The family was used as the unit of analysis. The population studied was 728 families, 345 families with experiences of normative events and 383 with experiences of para-normative events.

Among the normative events, those that were considered mmost significant of each stage of the life cycle. Marriage, within the formation stage, and widowhood, in the dissolution stage, as they are the ones that start and close the family life cycle. In the intermediate stages, the birth of the first child and adolescence were chosen, in the extension stage; and retirement and old age in the contraction stage as they are all of great importance in the development of the family and imply important changes in family life.

The paranormal events were studied in the category of dismemberment (divorce and untimely death) and three corresponding to the related to health (infertility, suicide attempt and alcoholism) and in the demoralization category the imprisonment.

By dismemberment, the most significant were the death and divorce due to the affectation they impose on the structure of the family system, while the selection of those related to health is it was due to the high incidence of suicide attempts, cases of alcoholism and infertile couples who requested assistance specialized.

The tests that were applied

The Family Adaptive Resources Assessment Test and the Family Social Support Test were applied, designed and validated by the author of the research (Herrera and González 2002).

• The Family Adaptive Resources Assessment Test, measures family patency and flexibility, behavioral changes in family members, family skills to solve problems, attribution of positive meaning to the problem, conflict resolution skills and changes in communication patterns relatives
• The Family Social Support Test explores the frequency of support received, the type of support, the most used support networks, the family's perception of the availability of support and satisfaction with it.

The application was carried out in a directed way to the family by an interviewer, during a visit to the home directly for each instrument, trying that the answer It was given on the basis of a family consensus, understanding as such the opinion of at least two members of the family, including the head of the nucleus family, who will be the person with greater decision-making power within the family and whose advice, guidance and opinions are taken into account by the rest of the members.

The data were organized, classified and analyzed, using absolute frequencies and percentage analysis, which were presented in tables. The tables were made in Excel. We worked with a Statistical Program for the Social Sciences, in addition to using the SPSS software.

All the normative events studied in the different stages of the evolutionary cycle had sufficient resources adaptive, marriage (91.4%), birth of the first child (92.5%), adolescence (72%), retirement (64.3%), old age (74.1%). The widowhood event (50%) was the one with the lowest adaptive resources. (See Graph 1: Adaptive resources of families in normative events).

The paranormal events that had sufficient adaptive resources were divorce with 67.5%, death with 58.6% and incarceration with 64.9% respectively.

In alcoholism, infertility and suicide attempt, the resources were insufficient (73.3%, 61.9%, 60%, 50.9% respectively), not finding a total absence of resources in any of the events. (See Graph 2: Adaptive resources of families in paranormative events).

There are significant differences (P <0.05) between events and adaptive resources that families have. Paranormative events have fewer adaptive resources than normative events, this difference being statistically significant (p <0.05)

In normative events, the type of social support received most frequently was emotional, in birth of the first child (62.5%), adolescence (91.5%), retirement (77.1%), old age (62.1%) and widowhood (64%). Marriage is the only one that receives less emotional support (38.6%). The instruments were received to some extent at marriage (67.1%), the birth of the first child (50%) and at retirement (52.9%). To a greater extent in widowhood (60%) and in old age (46.5%). Adolescence was the event that received no instrumental support. The families studied receive the newsletter in marriage (72.9%), the birth of the first child (75%), and (78.1%) in adolescence. In the events that appear at the end of the family life cycle, this type of support begins to decrease. As occurs in retirement (44.3%), old age (39.6%), in the case of widowhood only one (40%) receives some type of information.

The only event that received much spiritual support was old age with a (54.3%). The rest of the normative events received little spiritual support, marriage (78.6%), the birth of the first child (95%), adolescence (95.2%), retirement (42.8%) and 62% widowhood.

In paranormative events, the type of social support received was emotional, in death (92.9%), infertility (80.7%), suicide attempt (71.4%), divorce (61%) and incarceration (68.3%) and the informative in the suicide attempt (97.6), death (91.4%), infertility (87.7%) and imprisonment (46.7%), except in the event of alcoholism where a significant deficit of social support is seen in most of its manifestations, In the case of the news program, it receives a (66.7%), this may be given by the actions that are exercised in the health instances in the control of the diseases. We see that instrumental support was little used by the families studied, while spiritual support was received in suicide attempts (42.8%) and incarceration (58.8%).

Spiritual support was received to a greater extent by suicide attempt (42.8%) and incarceration in some (55.8%).

There is no statistically significant relationship between the types of events and emotional and instrumental support. The emotional support received (p = 0.334> 0.05) and the instrumental support (p = 0.65> 0.05) is given homogeneously in both types of events, according to the X2 test. No relationship is observed between emotional and instrumental support and the type of normative or para-normative event. Both in one and another event always affection, understanding and help are necessary material and instrumental in the face of crises.

There is a statistically significant relationship (p <0.05) between the events and the informational and spiritual support received. The difference between informational support (p <0.05) and spiritual support (p <0.05) received in normative and para-normative events is significant. The para-normative events received more informational and spiritual support, due to the high impact it has on families.

In normative events, in general, the social support received was frequent in most of these, the birth of the first child 47.5%, adolescence 59.8%, retirement 74.5%, old age 58.6% and widowhood 54%. The only one who received little support was marriage 60%.

In Paranormative events, the support received was infrequent in alcoholism (88.4%), in divorce (61.9%) and in incarceration, it was only frequent in infertility (46.6%), death (54.3%) and suicide attempt (57,1%); and families were seen who did not receive any support in the event of alcoholism.

There is a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) between the different types of events with respect to the frequency of social support received. Normative events received greater support.

In normative events, the main support networks used by families were: first, lown family of coexistence, secondly, other relatives living outside the home and, thirdly, the couple, followed by health institutions. The marriage event had as main support networks: the own family 80%, the family outside the home 84.3%, the couple 80%, co-workers 71.4% and friends 68.6%. The birth of the first child had the own family 100%, the family outside the home 50%, the couple 100%, the health institutions 92.5% and the friends 72.5%.

Adolescence showed as main sources: own family 97.6%, family outside the home 86.7%, couple 85.4%, neighbors 76.9%, health institutions 73%, coworkers 67% and friends 81.8%. The retirement event included 100% of the family itself, the rest of the family 82.9%, the couple 67.1% and friends 45.7%. The presence of old age in the family had as its main source of support the family itself 100%, the rest of the family 91.4%, neighbors 81% and health institutions 79.3%. The widowhood had their own family 60%, the family outside the home 70%, neighbors 100% and health institutions 80% and friends 86%. (See Graph 3: Main social support networks in normative events).

In the paranormal events we see that of the main support networks used by the families (divorce 92.2%, suicide attempt 100%, imprisonment 93.5% and alcoholism 63.3%). The couple was the main source of support in infertility (100%), suicide attempt (90.4%) and (85%) in alcoholism. Health institutions were important sources for infertility (94.7%) and for suicide attempt 100%. (See Graph 4: Main social support networks in paranormative events).

In normative events, we find that the availability of support is always present in most of these. Marriage 54.35, birth of the first child 55%, adolescence 43.9 and retirement 44.2%.

In the events that appear at the end of the evolutionary cycle, those who cannot always have social support, old age 51.7% and widowhood 78%, precisely because of the losses of the partner, family, friends and companions of job. (See Graph 5: Availability of social support in normative events).

In paranormative events, the availability of support was found to be absent in the alcoholism event. Availability in divorce 44.1%, in death 45%, in suicide attempt 47.6%, in infertility 43.8% and in incarceration 42.9%, absent in alcoholism. In infertility, divorce, death and suicide attempts, the possibility of receiving help from families was always present (43.8%, 44.1%, 45.7% and 47.6%).

The normative events of the first stages of the evolutionary cycle, families perceive adequate availability of support (marriage 54.3%, birth of the first child 55%, adolescence 43.9%), while in the later stages it begins to decrease, in retirement 44.2%, old age 34.4% and widowhood 14%.

The behavior of availability in the para-normative was lower than in the normative divorce 44.1%, death 45.7%, suicide attempt 47.6%, infertility 43.8%, imprisonment 42.9 and in the case of alcoholism it was 0%.

There are significant differences (P <0.05) between events in relation to the availability of social support. Normative events were more widely available than paranormal events and this difference is statistically significant (p <0.05).

All the families studied that presented normative events were satisfied with the support received. Marriage in 68.6%, the birth of the first child in 57.5%, adolescence 73.15%, retirement 58.5%, old age 53.4% ​​and widowhood 90%.

In the infertility, divorce, death, and incarceration events the families were satisfied with the support received (52%, 57.1%, 58.6%, and 57.1%) and in suicide attempt very satisfied (71.4%). In alcoholism, satisfaction with the support received is the lowest 6.7%.

If there is a significant difference (P <0.05) between the events with respect to satisfaction with the support received. The difference between normative and paranormal events in the level of satisfaction with the support received is statistically significant (P <0.05). The families that went through the normative events felt greater satisfaction with the social support received.

The results obtained in the measurement of the behavior of adaptive resources in normative events show that all the events studied had adaptive resources enough in families to face the crises that could trigger different events throughout the evolutionary cycle.

Previous experiences with normative events they are passed from one generation to another. The ability to learn is maintained throughout life. Learning, acquired by previous experiences, allows the continuity and stability of the family, facilitating the assimilation of change and readjustment of functions.

We agree with Molinari et al. (2010), who state that the specific ways in which family members interact at times determined aspects of their lives, that is, every time they are facing transitions, it is a direct reflection of how they have handled transitions and crises in the past.

The death of spouse has particular characteristics among the normative events, around the adaptation to this new state, there are protective factors that facilitate and are associated with the emergence of adaptive resilient levels to this condition of widowhood, such as the support provided by the family and the functioning family.

Pérez (2011), states that the family environment is the most important resource to face widowhood. The position that the widower occupies in that group, recognition, respect and performing tasks at home, favor a favorable coping with the event.

The paranormal events that had sufficient adaptive resources were divorce, death, and incarceration. The acceptance of divorce by the parents as a necessary solution, to avoid multiple and unpredictable consequences for all members of the family system, allows it to restructure the different areas of family life, creating adjustment mechanisms and adaptation to new terms.

In the case of death, when grief is normal, adaptation to loss is facilitated. When the family assimilates the new reality, it develops the duel, gradual adaptation to the new situation is favored (Meza and others 2008). In a study carried out by Correa on the grieving process in families, he argues: that according to the systemic approach, the "adaptation" of the family to significant loss, stating that the level of "adaptability" of families to the crisis of loss, coincides with the categorization of family organizations according to their behavioral patterns of flexibility and adaptability (Correa, 2006).

It can be said that in paranormative events, which do not have a sequence or continuity in time and cannot be reversed, family adaptability was better than in those in which situations persist over time, exhausting family adaptive resources as occurs in alcoholism, infertility and intent suicide.

Normative events they received more emotional and informational support. The normative events that received the most emotional support were: birth of the first child, adolescence, retirement, old age and widowhood. The instruments were received to some extent in marriage, the birth of the first child and in retirement. The families studied receive the newsletter in marriage, the birth of the first child and in adolescence. In the events that appear at the end of the family life cycle, this type of support begins to decrease. As in retirement, old age. In the case of widowhood, most families do not receive this type of support, only one receives some type of information. The only event that received much spiritual support was old age.

The instruments are more present in the moments that the family needs more help, where the members are more dependent, as occurs at the birth of a child and at the end of life when they lose capabilities.

ANDThe type of support moves in the evolutionary cycle depending on the needs of each stage. In the training stage, financial or material help is important for the creation of the couple's living conditions; When a child is born, instrumental help in carrying out household chores to alleviate the labor of the woman in labor and that she can take care of her health and the newborn is relevant; affective support also plays a transcendental role at this stage. The affective help to the mother who finds herself with many demands, motivated by the new role, will allow to cushion the emotional sensitivity that can appear in women during those moments, decreasing the negative emotional states that they can surface.

Informational support is sought at times when it is required greater knowledge to address new situations, where perhaps there has been no previous experience, such as marriage, the birth of the first child and adolescence. The help that is given to the family with advice, guidance, guiding them through the new experience to live, are valuable when facing these life cycle events.

The affective and instrumental support is very valuable in the final stages of life, where the individual must face not only physical and intellectual changes typical of age, but also changes in lifestyles, roles, losses and responsibilities social. Many older people begin to experience a dependence on third parties to carry out their daily activities. Instrumental support through help in home services reduces the burden of tasks, for which already the elderly person is not competent, reducing risks even for their health such as accidents domestic.

The emotional and spiritual support is invaluable in the life of the elderly due to the losses experienced at this stage of the life cycle. It is essential to have someone to talk to, to be able to express yourself emotionally, to feel loved, loved, to be cared for and valued. Feel faith, hope, practice a religious belief. These types of support have a direct effect on promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of people in these stages of life.

In paranormative events, emotional support was received most frequently in death, infertility, suicide attempt, divorce, and incarceration. The information in the suicide attempt, death, infertility and imprisonment, this can be given by the actions that are exerted in the health instances in the control of the diseases. We see that instrumental support was little used by the families studied, while the spiritual was received in the suicide attempt and imprisonment.

The preference in the types of support in paranormative events, is found to prefer the emotional, since when facing a risk situation, they find stability in this way affective. They also demand informational support, because they are not prepared for the situation they present, they require information specific information, knowledge, suggestions, alternatives of action, which can facilitate the confrontation or the solution of the problems.

The deficit of social support in alcoholism appears due to the attitudes of society towards people who suffer from this disease, causing distancing from sources of help. The addict does not have good socialization, develops poor ties with society, maintaining difficult relationships with it due to the lack of social integration. Also many families choose not to talk about the issue, constituting a "family secret" is not asks for help, neither inside nor outside the home, out of fear and shame, depriving himself of the support that need.

Individuals, where there is a risk of death or extreme life situations, both they and the Families in general turn to spirituality and religion to help them address their reality. Spiritual harmony is one of the most powerful means used by patients and the family, as resources to cope with a critical health situation.

The lack of support in divorce could be given, because many people are of the opinion that in couple affairs it is better not to interfere, thus limiting their sources of support, so necessary and useful for the family in those moments of crisis.

The imprisonment event has moral and legal implications. People who serve prison sentences generally lack social acceptance and it is the family that provides the most support to the inmate.

The frequency of support was higher in normative events than in Paranormative ones. In the events of the evolutionary cycle, especially those of the first stages of family life, they tend to be short and they make the people, who lend their help, able to return to their normal activities, with the exception of old age in the final stage of the cycle evolutionary.

In the paranormal, some events they are not socially accepteds, as is alcoholism and incarceration, another element is the duration of the support provided, when they are of long duration, support is sometimes abandoned (González, 2002).

In both normative and para-normative events, the main support networks used by families were, in the first place, the cohabitation family itself, secondly, other relatives who do not live in the same home and, thirdly, the partner and, lastly, friends, health institutions and neighbors. The least used networks were religious associations and other social institutions

The family is the most used social network, the person is immersed in it from birth to death. This network is of great importance and is used throughout the life cycle, but it undergoes changes according to the stage of life. The roles of family members change throughout life. In the first and last stages of life, individuals are recipients of the support provided by the rest of the family and in adulthood they are generally providers of support.

The family is the ideal group for social support due to their characteristics of communication, mutual identification, source of support, affection, security and response to problems. It is the main resource to respond to the needs of all its members.

The couple is one of the most used social networks. Within the family, the satisfactory relationship of the couple can act as a social support network, favoring the satisfaction and well-being of the individual, enhancing health. The members of a couple have a perception of closeness, emotional bond and intimacy, which makes that the role of the partner to whom you are attached is highly valued, in difficult times. In the case of paranormatives, alcoholism, suicide attempt and infertility. The latter had as the main source of support was the couple, in this event the couple and make greater use of health institutions where they go to seek specialized help (Del Castillo, et al, 2009).

The role that social support plays during the aging process, friends and neighbors are sources important supportive relationships, these relationships share similar life experiences, memories, opinions, values

In the normative events that received the most support from the network of health institutions was the birth of the first child, adolescence, old age and widowhood, in the paranormatives death and infertility. This network is a very important source of support, it offers the right help, at the right time, as a facilitating element of human health.

There is evidence that the relationships and exchanges established with the networks play a protective role against the deterioration of health are considered essential elements for overcoming the crisis and allow to face them with more capacity to coping.

The unavailability in alcoholism It is given by the difficulties in coexistence, poor social integration, chronicity and the prognosis of the disease (González, 2005).

Some research has found that when problems are chronic and last over time, they threaten the availability of social support. Support providers may become frustrated over time, finding that their efforts do not offer improvement or positive results (Castro R, et al, 1997).

The availability of social support was present in most of the events, with the exception of the alcoholism event and to a lesser extent in old age and widowhood. Satisfaction with the support received was good in normative and para-normative events, with the exception of alcoholism.

The perception that there is help available from others can make the stressful magnitude of an aversive event perceived as reduced (Barraza, 2008). Not all the support provided is perceived as sufficient and appropriate for the subject. Perceived social support is more important than received, since it is what determines the well-being of the family. Perceived support works by increasing feelings of worth and efficacy and therefore increases the self-confidence at a general level, this is related to better coping with situations conflicting.

The results show that the adaptability of the family system is potentiated with the presence of social support, allowing modulation of responses to the events of the life, on the contrary, when these resources are absent, the risk to family health increases (López, 2008).

Most events, which had sufficient adaptive resources, received frequent support. Family adaptability was influenced by the social support received in families who presented normative and para-normative events. The impact on family health was higher in para-normative events than in normative ones, as they had insufficient adaptive resources and received less social support.

• In normative events, adaptive resources were sufficient, unlike paranormative ones, where, in general, they were insufficient.
• The types of support most received in both types of events were emotional and informational.
• The most used support networks were the family, the partner, friends, health institutions and neighbors. The least used were religious associations and other social institutions
• The impact on family health of the events is related to the adaptive resources and social support that the families had. Social support and adaptive resources have a buffering effect on the impact of normative and para-normative events on family health.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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