Processes of Resilience Experienced by Families Composed of Same-Sex Couples

Abstract

This study investigated the processes of resilience in families composed of same-sex couples. From multiple case studies, 7 same-sex couples (four lesbian couples and three gay male couples) were interviewed, being residents of Fortaleza City who cohabited at the time of the interview. Among the coping strategies that have been successful in dealing with the challenges of family history and supporting the positive adaptive functioning of same-sex families, three major domains of family resilience were discussed: (1) belief systems (redefining family, assigning meaning to adversity, positive outlook, spirituality/transcendence); (2) organizational processes (flexibility, connectivity/family cohesion, and mobilizing social and economic resources); (3) communication/problem solving processes (clear communication, emotional expression and enjoyable interactions, and collaborative problem solving). Family resilience has proven to be a promising approach to intervention directed at families composed of same-sex couples, since it enlightens the potential of these families, without disregarding the homophobic context and other adversities experienced by same-sex couples.