The importation, transmission, and moderation of stress in the family system

Abstract

Despite its importance in community psychology, the stress process is still viewed primarily as an individual-level phenomenon, little research being conducted on the dynamics of stress in a social system such as the family. Propositions derived from a model of family stress were tested using data from a cross-sectional survey of family triads (father, mother, and adolescent). Two measures of distress were related significantly to both macro-and microstressors, and perceived social support did not buffer this relationship. Stressors endogenous to the family were significantly associated with those exogenous to the family (stressor importation hypothesis); contrary to prediction, this relationship did not vary across family members or family types (high vs. low cohesion). Distress in some family members was significantly associated with stressors experienced by other family members (stress transmission hypothesis); this relationship did not vary across family types but did vary across family members to some extent in that stress was transmitted from adolescents to parents to a greater degree than vice versa.

Common stressful life events and difficulties are associated with mental health symptoms and substance use in young adolescents

“…Despite numerous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, the relationship between stressful life events and mental health in adolescents is not yet fully understood [16-21]. In adults, stressful life events often precede mental health problems [22], whereas in adolescents, in addition to the same pattern, mental health symptoms (such as depressive symptoms) can lead to stressful life events (such as a romantic breakup) [23,24].…”

Children's and parents' daily stressful events and psychological symptoms

“…However, similar analyses have not been conducted with samples of younger children. stress of parenting encountered by mothers (e.g., Mash & Johnston, 1983), with maternal stress associated with family violence and crises (e.g., Wolf, Jaffe, Wilson, & Zak, 1985), with mothers' experiences of chronic strains (e.g., Hammen et al, 1987), and with parents' major life events (e.g., Fergusson, Horwood, Gretton, & Shannon, 1985;Holahan & Moos, 198"/;Thomson & Vaux, 1986). Parental lifetime history of psychopathology and current psychological symptoms have also been shown to be important sources of risk for children's maladjustment.…”

Stress Among School Going Adolescents

“…This is similar to investigation by multinational investigation. 15 To summarise, the results of investigation indicates that both groups are faced with stressors and that disturbed group face more number of stressors than the control group. This may imply that competency traits may act as protective factors against stress.…”