Constants and change. Conceptualisation of family strengths vary by culture, by generation, and by research methods. Browse this collection of family strengths to sensitise your observations of family life.

1. FAMILY STRENGTHS
CONSTANTS AND CHANGE

2. FAMILY STRENGTHS IN 1960S
 1. Family as a Strength Within Itself
 2. Strong Marriage
 3. Strength as Parents
 4. Parents Help Children to Develop
 5. Relationships Within the Family
 6. Family Does Things Together
 7. Social and Economic Status Satisfactory
 8. Religious Beliefs
 9. Home Environment
 10. Activities in Community Affairs
 11. Education
 12. Capacity to Change
 13. Relationships with In-Laws
 14. Attitudes Toward Sex
 15. Recognizing the Need For and Accepting Help

3. FAMILY STRENGTHS IN THE 90S (USA)
Two US national surveys, randomly selected, 45,000
respondents
Five of the measures analyzed relate to positive family
processes:
(1) parental positive mental health
(2) household routines
(3) time use
(4) communication and praise
(5) monitoring, supervision, and involvement
(6) parent-child warmth and supportiveness – relates
to positive family relationships.
 Both the qualities of family relationships and of
family behaviors are important aspects of family
strengths.
 Multiple measures are necessary to provide a more
complete picture of the status of a family or groups
of households.
 Measures of family strengths need to address
different developmental periods of family life.
 The nature of family strengths is influenced by the
social and economic context of families’ social
environments.
 The role of culture affects family processes and
relationships in ways that we don’t currently
understand or assess well.
 Moore, K. A., Chalk, R., Scarpa, J., & Vandivere, S. (2002). Family Strengths:
Often overlooked but real.

4. VARIATIONS IN STRENGTHS AS A CONCEPT
 Caring relationships
 High expectation messages
 Opportunities for participation and contribution
 Bernard, B. (2006). Using strengths-based practice to tap the
resilience of families. In D. Saleebey (Ed.), The Strengths
Perspective in social work practice (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn
& Bacon.
 Concept #1—Awareness, abilities and skills
 Concept #2—Cultural experience
 Concept #3—Personal qualities
 Concept #4—Integrating child into the family
 Ivanova, V., & Brown, J. (2011). Strengths of aboriginal foster
parents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(3), 279-285.

5. FAMILY STRENGTHS AND ADVERSE EXPERIENCES
While you were growing up, during your first 18 years of life, how true
were each of the following statements?
 People in your family felt close to each other.
 Your family was a source of support.
 People in your family looked out for each other
 You knew there was someone to take care of you and to protect
you.
 There was someone in your family who helped you feel important
or special
 You felt loved.
 There was someone to take you to the doctor if you needed it.
 Hillis, S. D., Anda, R. F., Dube, S. R., Felitti, V. J., Marchbanks, P. A.,
Macaluso, M., & Marks, J. S. (2017). The protective effect of family
strengths in childhood against adolescent pregnancy and its long-
term psychosocial consequences. Issues, 2016.
 Retrospective cohort, N=4648 women
 After adjustment, we observed a 46% reduction in adolescent
pregnancy rates (adjusted OR = 0.54) among with both high family
strengths (6 or 7 categories) and coexisting Adverse Child
Experience (ACE), compared with women with low childhood family
strengths (0 or 1 category) and coexisting ACE.
 After adjusting for age, race, education, adolescent pregnancy, and
history of coexisting childhood abuse or family dysfunction, we
found that a high number of family strengths (6 or 7) led to a
significant protective effect against job, family, and financial
problems, as well as uncontrollable anger. These findings did not
vary by whether ACE were reported.

6. Family strengths
contributing to family
resilience
Lietz, C. A. (2007). Uncovering stories
family resilience: A mixed methods
study of resilient families, Part 2.
Families in Society, 88(1), 147-155.

7. Stages of family
resilience
Family strengths that typify or
support this stage
Stage 5 – Helping others Giving social support
Stage 4 – Growing
stronger
Appraisal
Stage 3 - Acceptance Insight
Humour
Communication
Moral/spirituality
Stage 2 – Adaptation Creative/flexibility
Boundary setting
Stage 1 – Survival External and internal social
support
Taking charge
Moral/spirituality
Resilience occurs as families use
strengths to overcome risk and
maintain functioning.
Family strengths can be stronger
than risk.
Lietz, C. A. (2007). Uncovering stories of
family resilience: A mixed methods study of
resilient families, Part 2. Families in Society,
88(1), 147-155.

8. STRENGTHS OF ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
 Theme 1: A collective community focus on child rearing helps children—The values of interdependence,
group cohesion and community loyalty are key features of Aboriginal family and community life, where raising
children is considered to be a shared responsibility of all community members.
 Theme 2: Children need the freedom to explore and experience the world—Aboriginal communities offer
their children every opportunity to explore the world around them, to help them develop the necessary skills
to successfully negotiate their pathways to adulthood.
 Theme 3: Elderly family members are important to family functioning—The elderly are highly respected for
their contributions to family life in Aboriginal communities, particularly in helping children to understand the
practical aspects of life and society.
 Theme 4: Spirituality helps families cope with challenges—Families and communities who engage in spiritual
practices benefit from a greater sense of identity, and individuals are more likely to connect with, support and
help protect one another.
 Lohoar, S., Butera, N., & Kennedy, E. (2014). Strengths of Australian Aboriginal cultural practices in family life and child rearing: Australian Institute
of Family Studies.