Handling a Family Crisis

Every family will have to experience at least one family crisis at some point. These crises present great challenges and can either make or break a family depending on how they handle the situation. In an effort to better understand how families handle conflict was created, a family researcher named Reuben Hill created the ABCX family crisis model. This model breaks down all of the important factors of what happens during a family crisis. Let me explain how it works and how it can be helpful in times of crisis.

The first part of the ABCX model is the stressor event (A). To make it easier to remember the parts of the model in order, my teacher created acronyms, so we called the stressor event (the A in the model) the actual event. I think this is pretty self-explanatory. This represents the crisis that the family is going through. For example, this could be a financial or employment problem, the loss of a family member, a serious injury or illness experienced by one of the family members, or something else along these lines. However, a terrible crisis does not necessarily mean that a family will fall apart. This event could end up strengthening a family due to how they are able to handle the situation, which brings us to the next part of the model.

The next part of the model (B) is how the family copes with the situation. In class we referred to this as both the resources and the response of the family. Resources vary from from family to family. Resources can include community, church, money, time, extended family, and much more. These resources can play a big part in how well a family will be able to cope with their situation. For example, families with great, caring communities and helpful family members will likely be able to respond better to a crisis than a family that does not have these resources. However, a family with more limited resources can still choose to respond positively and wisely to the situation, even if it will be more difficult for them. The next part of the model is how the family views their situation.

In class we called part C of the model cognition. This is how the family chooses to define the event. One family will define a crisis in their lives as a disaster that they will not be able to recover from. Another family may be going through the same crisis but define it as a challenge that they will be able to overcome together. Can you see the impact of how these definitions will affect them? The first family will have a much more difficult time getting through the event and because their negative outlook on the situation, they might never be able to completely recover. However, the family the views the event in a more positive light will be able to get through the challenge easier and could have their family situation restored or even strengthened. This is an extremely important aspect of why some families are able to succeed after crises while others are not.

The last part of the model, X, is the total experience, or outcome of the event. Two families can go through the exact same event, but the results will end differently depending on how they cope and how they perceive the situation they are in. This is why some families crumble in a crisis while others are strengthened. It all depends on the family's response to their situation. This why it is so important for families to work together to resolve issues and why having a positive outlook instead of a hopeless one has such a huge impact. If you are ever going through a family crisis, remember to use your resources and be willing to ask for support from others. Most importantly, do not give up. If you always press forward with hope and optimism, it will likely have lasting impacts on your life.