Economic strain and quality of life among families with emerging adult children

The contributions of family rituals and family problem‐solving communication

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21320175
AutoresGiovanni Fonseca (0000-0001-7210-5491, Centre for Social Studies, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal, autor de correspondencia), Bruno de Sousa (0000-0001-9918-8100, CINEICC, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal), Carla Crespo (0000-0002-9125-0106, CICPSI, Faculty of Psychology University of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal), Ana Paula Relvas (0000-0001-9011-2230, Centre for Social Studies, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal)
Año2024
Volumen63
Número3
Páginas1319-1335
Fecha de publicación2024-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFamily Process (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/famp.12884
PMID37039329
OpenAlexW4364354255
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas66

Young people and their families around the world are especially vulnerable to macroeconomic hard times. This study sought to provide a more comprehensive view on how families with emerging adult children can successfully overcome economic distress. Specifically, we examined the links between economic strain—that is, the subjective perceptions of one's current and future financial situation—family ritual meaning, family problem‐solving communication, and quality of life, as reported by emerging adults and their parents. Data were collected from 1017 individuals nested in 334 families living in Portugal in 2016/2017. Results from multilevel modeling provided evidence for a negative impact of economic strain on family members' quality of life ( β = −0.30, p β = 0.01, p = 0.022), but not family problem‐solving communication, as a buffer against the negative effect of economic strain on quality of life. Findings also suggested that the subjective evaluations that family members formulated about their financial situations played a greater role than objective economic conditions (e.g., income) in establishing a deeper understanding on the impact of economic demands on individuals and families' lives in today's complex financial world. This study provides a significant contribution to family economic stress research, advancing family ritual meaning as a key family dynamic contributing to positive adaptation to economic distress. The implications of these findings for clinical interventions include the potential benefits of symbolic forms of family communication in the work carried out with economically stressed family members

Developmental psychology · Family life · Physics · Psychotherapist · Quality (philosophy) · Quality of life (healthcare) · Sociology · Strain (injury) · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Gender Studies · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology