Have you ever wondered how some families seem more closely connected and resilient during hard times? Several studies have found that strong families across the world share much the same characteristics.
Strong families demonstrate these six key strengths:
1. Appreciation and affection for one another. People in strong families regularly let each other know how much they care for each other.
2. Commitment. Members of strong families invest time and energy in family activities and do not let work or other priorities take away too much time.
3. Positive communication. Strong families share communication in two important ways. They tend to be task-oriented, identifying problems and solving them together. Perhaps more importantly, they also spend time just talking to one another. These non-task oriented conversations can reveal important information about family members than often helps when difficulties occur.
4. Enjoyable time together. Genuinely enjoying shared activities is a common practice among strong families.
5. Spiritual well-being. People in strong families describe spiritual well-being as faith or a sense of optimism or oneness with the world. Some families talk about the family itself as their “center.” However spirituality is viewed, it seems to be a feeling or force that helps people transcend themselves and focus on what is sacred to them.
6. Effective in managing stress and crisis. Strong families seem to be less crisis-prone than other families. They show an ability to manage daily stressors and to prevent trouble before it happens. But when a crisis occurs, they work together to find a creative, effective solution.
All families can build upon these characteristics. Open communication, positive support, enjoying time together and solving problems together are keys to strengthening families.
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