Multistressed families are the ones that face, during their course of life, multiple challenges and experience several unfavourable conditions that determine their adjustment and development (Melo, 2011). Notwithstanding the elements of challenge, a recent approach on these sort of families has shown that they also have strengths. Nevertheless, literature often lacks information in what concerns the identification and exploitation of these strength factors. The present study aims to identify the family strengths acknowledged by the multistressed families and, simultaneously, to understand the main forces and challenges identified by the social service technicians who work with them. The sample consists of 32 adults, fathers and mothers with underage dependent children, aged between 22 and 53 years old, in circumstances of risk and/or social vulnerability. It also contemplates 2 social service technicians, who regularly work with these families. Following a quantitative methodology, the results obtained indicate that the families are able to perceive their own strengths and they can indicate positive aspects of their interaction as a family. They also demonstrate that the technicians recognize strengths in these families, even though they simultaneously identify several challenges. The results show an inconsistency between the perception of the technicians and the families, concerning the identification of the family strengths. These results highlight the importance of considering a family intervention focused on the family strengths in order to enable a successful approach.
Date of Award | 2015 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Mariana Negrão (Supervisor) |
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- Multistressed families
- Family strengths and technicians
Forças familiares nas famílias multidesafiadas: a perceção das famílias e dos técnicos
Fernandes, S. C. (Student). 2015
Student thesis: Master's Thesis