Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this doctoral research was to determine whether family stress covaried with family strength. In addition, the relationship between family strengths and family stress was investigated as a function of residential group home (RGH) placement and non-residential placement. The family strengths of resources, coping, and well-being, and family stress were measured for 17 RGH parent and adolescent dyads and 22 non-RGH parent and adolescent dyads. Thirty-nine families participated. It was hypothesized that family stress decreases with increases of family strengths. In addition, it was expected that family strengths would be greater for non-RGH families and family stress would be greater for RGH families. A MANOVA of the three strength measures indicated that these measures were greater for non-RGH families than RGH families as reported by both the parent and the adolescent. An ANOVA indicated that stress was greater for RGH families than non-RGH families. Finally, a multiple regression analysis indicated that family stress varied with family strengths as measured by family coping and family well-being but not as measured by family resources.

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