Abstract
Integration of concepts and models from family resource management and family stress theories can provide a comprehensive view of the crisis and stress management process. This article (a) presents and discusses the ABCD-XYZ Resource Management Model of Crisis/Stress, (b) discusses the concepts of coping, resource management, and adaptation as they pertain to crisis and stress, (c) shows how interpersonal resource exchange theory can be used to conceptualize the concept of social support, and (d) suggests how concepts from family resource management can provide better insight into family crisis/stress. According to the ABCD-XYZ model, crisis/stress management involves (a) perceiving the stressor, the demands of the situation, and the available coping resources to formulate a definition of the crisis/stress situation, (b) cognitive coping and managerial decision-making to create, use, or combine coping resources, and (c) activating those decisions through adaptive coping and management behavior.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, M., Bubolz, M., & Paolucci, B. (1980). An ecological approach to study of the family.Marriage and Family Review, 3(1/2), 29–49.
Antonovsky, A., & Sourani, T. (1988). Family sense of coherence and family adaptation.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50 79–92.
Boss, P. (1987). Family stress: Perception and context. In M. Sussman & S. Steinmetz (Eds.),Handbook on marriage and the family (pp. 695–723). New York: Plenum.
Boss, P. (1988).Family stress management. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Caplan, G. (1974).Support systems and community mental health; Lectures on concept development. New York: Behavioral Publications.
Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress.Psychosomatic Medicine, 38 300–314.
Deacon, R., & Firebaugh, F. (1988).Family resource management: Principles and applications (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Dollahite, D. (1989, November).An integration of family resource management, interpersonal resource exchange, and stress and coping theories. Paper presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology Pre-conference Workshop at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, New Orleans, LA.
Foa, U. (1971). Interpersonal and economic resources.Science, 171 345–351.
Foa, U., & Foa, E. (1974).Societal structures of the mind. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Garrison, M., Malia, J., Molgaard, V., & Norem, R. (1990, November).A comprehensive model of theoretical integration of family resource management theory and family stress theory. Paper presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology Pre-conference Workshop at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Seattle, WA.
Hill, R. (1958). Generic features of families under stress.Social Casework, 39 139–158.
Hogan, M., & Buehler, C. (1983, October).The concept of resources: Definition issues. Paper presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology Workshop at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, St. Paul, MN.
Key, R., & Firebaugh, F. (1989). Family resource management: Preparing for the 21st century.Journal of Home Economics, 81(1), 13–17.
Kuhn, A. (1975).Unified social science: A system-based introduction. Homewood, IL: Dorsey.
Lavee, Y., & Dollahite, D. (1991). The linkage between theory and research in family science.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53 361–373.
Lazarus, R., & Folkman, S. (1984).Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.
McCubbin, H., Cauble, A., & Patterson, J. (Eds.). (1982).Family stress, coping, and social support. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
McCubbin, H., Joy, C., Cauble, A., Comeau, J., Patterson, J., & Needle, R. (1980). Family stress and coping: A decade review.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 42 855–871.
McCubbin, H., & Patterson, J. (1982). Family adaptation to crises. In H. McCubbin, A. Cauble, & J. Patterson (Eds.),Family stress, coping, and social support (pp. 26–47). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
McCubbin, H., & Patterson, J. (1983). The family stress process: The Double ABCX model of adjustment and adaptation.Marriage and Family Review, 6 7–37.
Melson, G. (1980).Family and environment: An ecosystem perspective. Minneapolis: Burgess.
Melson, G. (1983). Family adaptation to environmental demands. In H. McCubbin & C. Figley (Eds.),Stress and the family: Vol. 1. Coping with normative transitions (pp. 149–162). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Menaghan, E. (1983). Individual coping efforts and family studies: Conceptual and methodological issues.Marriage and Family Review, 6 113–135.
Olson, D., McCubbin, H., Barnes, H., Larsen, A., Muxen, M., & Wilson, M. (1983).Families: What makes them work. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Paolucci, B., Hall, O., & Axinn, N. (1977).Family decision making: An ecosystem approach. New York: John WIley.
Pilisuk, M., & Parks, S. (1983). Social support and family stress.Marriage and Family Review, 6 137–156.
Reiss, D., & Oliveri, M. (1983). Family stress as community frame.Marriage and Family Review, 6 61–83.
Rettig, K. (1988).A framework for integrating family relations and family resource management. Paper presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology Workshop at the annual meeting of the National Council of Family Relations, Philadelphia, PA. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Paper No. 16548.
Rettig, K., & Bubolz, M. (1983a). Interpersonal resource exchanges as indicators of quality of marriage.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45 497–509.
Rettig, K., & Bubolz, M. (1983b). Perceptual indicators of family well-being.Social Indicators Research, 12 417–438.
Rice, A., & Tucker, S. (1986).Family life management (6th ed.). New York: Macmillan.
Rodman, H., & Payne, C. (1991, November).A low-tech view of theory building: The definition of concepts. Paper presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology Workshop at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Denver, CO.
Siegel, P. (1984). Human ecology and ecology. In M. Micklin & H. Choldin (Eds.),Sociological human ecology (pp. 21–49). Boulder, CO: Westview.
Unger, D., & Powell, D. (1980). Supporting families under stress: The role of social networks.Family Relations, 29 566–574.
Walker, A. (1985). Reconceptualizing family stress.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47 827–837.
White, R. (1985). Strategies of adaptation: An attempt at systematic description. In A. Monat & R. S. Lazarus (Eds.),Stress and coping: An anthology (2nd ed.) (pp. 121–143). New York: Columbia University.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The author wishes to thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions.
David C. Dollahite is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412-5001. His research interests include family resource management, family stress, intergenerational transmission of values, and family storytelling. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dollahite, D.C. Family resource management and family stress theories: Toward a conceptual integration. J Fam Econ Iss 12, 361–377 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986852
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986852