TY - JOUR
T1 - Empathic action and family resilience
T2 - A narrative examination of the benefits of helping others
AU - Lietz, Cynthia
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Empathy is identified as a protective factor that has been helpful for children considered at high risk for poor mental health and social functioning due to experiencing stressful circumstances such as family violence, substance abuse of a parent, or poverty. Yet, little is known about its relevance to a family's ability to overcome adversity. This study examined the narratives of 20 resilient families who maintained family functioning despite experiencing a multitude of risk factors including poverty, death of a child, significant health problems, or substance abuse problems. Narrative analysis was used to identify the ways families situated empathic actions within their stories of resilience. Findings suggest families developed increased compassion for others as a result of their own experiences with loss, trauma, or stress and discussed how helping others increased their ability to cope with the challenges they faced. Future research and practice implications are outlined and support the usefulness of strengths-based concepts and interventions.
AB - Empathy is identified as a protective factor that has been helpful for children considered at high risk for poor mental health and social functioning due to experiencing stressful circumstances such as family violence, substance abuse of a parent, or poverty. Yet, little is known about its relevance to a family's ability to overcome adversity. This study examined the narratives of 20 resilient families who maintained family functioning despite experiencing a multitude of risk factors including poverty, death of a child, significant health problems, or substance abuse problems. Narrative analysis was used to identify the ways families situated empathic actions within their stories of resilience. Findings suggest families developed increased compassion for others as a result of their own experiences with loss, trauma, or stress and discussed how helping others increased their ability to cope with the challenges they faced. Future research and practice implications are outlined and support the usefulness of strengths-based concepts and interventions.
KW - Altruism
KW - Empathy
KW - Family resilience
KW - Narrative
KW - Prosocial
KW - Qualitative
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957537478&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/01488376.2011.564035
DO - 10.1080/01488376.2011.564035
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79957537478
SN - 0148-8376
VL - 37
SP - 254
EP - 265
JO - Journal of Social Service Research
JF - Journal of Social Service Research
IS - 3
ER -