Analyzing Cases with the Family Stress ABC-X Model: Examples of Midlife Families

A family stress is a tension that occurs when an event or change occurs in a family and the family system becomes difficult to cope with in the past. Some families get through the same thing, some end up in crisis, and Hill's ABC-X model is the representative theory that explains the difference.

In family counseling and family welfare subjects, the challenge to apply theory to real family cases is frequently presented. I summarized the meaning of the theory and the order in which the midlife family case is applied.

How should I view my family stress?

Stress can be described from three perspectives. It is a stimulus perspective that focuses on the event that causes stress, a reaction perspective that focuses on the reaction of the body and mind to the event, and an interaction perspective that focuses on the relationship between the event and the person or family who accepts it. Family stress theory mainly stands in terms of interaction, and I think the results vary depending on how the family perceives events and what resources are used.

So, while family can be a source of stress, it's also a starting point for this theory to be the closest resource to overcoming stress.

What is the ABC-X model?

Hill proposed this model in 1949, studying families separated by war. I saw that A is the event that causes stress, B is the family's coping resources, and C is the meaning or awareness that the family gives to the event, and these three work together to determine X, that is, the extent of the crisis. Since then, McCoverlin et al. have expanded to a dual ABC-X model, adding stress, new resources, and awareness over time after the crisis. The power of families to recover from crises can be found in the Family Resilience Wiki article.

The advantage of this model is that it makes the direction of the intervention clear by showing that resources and perceptions can be changed without the event itself being able to change.

발표 시간은 정해진 시간보다 조금 짧게 맞춰 두는 게 안전하더라고요. 연습할 때 휴대폰으로 녹음해서 들어 보는 것도 좋을 것 같아요.

How might this apply to midlife family examples?

For example, a family made up of a couple in their 40s and one child could think of a situation where the burden of caring for elderly parents and the burden of educating children increased marital conflict and decreased marital satisfaction. At this time, A is the elderly parent support, children's issues, and house-sharing conflicts, B is a resource such as the couple's conversation time, relatives' help, and local services available, and C is whether the couple sees this situation as a fault of each other or a task together. It's a good idea to generalize examples to avoid revealing real people.

How do you plan to deal with it?

The way to deal with this is to change B and C. In terms of resources, you can connect external resources such as elderly care services and family counseling agencies, and plan to share housework and care again. On the perception side, we need counseling to help couples understand each other's challenges. It's a good idea to start with the smallest actions, like 10 minutes a day, to build your experience of success, considering that couples may have different ways of dealing with emotions. The task is the concept and → perspective of family → stress Introduction to the ABC-X model → A, B, and C Analysis → Coping plan and intervention process → Practice Testimonials In order, the flow is clear. Describing family stress from the perspective of stimulation, response, and interaction, and applying gender-specific emotional control strategies and couples counseling intervention processes such as 10 minutes a day to middle-aged nuclear family cases, it is good to refer to the structure of family counseling tasks that link theory and cases for 6-page campus-down middle-aged family stress case materials. In your intervention plan, write down your goals and how they will be evaluated at each session.