Family Resilience and Perceived Stress: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Although numerous studies have observed a negative correlation between family resilience and perceived stress, the strength of this relationship has exhibited significant variability in previous research. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between family resilience and perceived stress, investigating the moderating roles of various factors. Employing a three-level meta-analysis, the research scrutinized 23 selected studies involving 17,480 participants and 99 effect sizes, following a comprehensive literature search and screening. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between family resilience and perceived stress, r = −0.25. Notably, the family resilience systems theory showed a significant negative correlation, r = −0.28, than other models, suggesting its superior ability to explain the resilience-stress relationship. Furthermore, the study found that the mean age of adults significantly moderated this relationship, with older adults demonstrating a more pronounced negative correlation, r = −0.24, implying that established resilience practices and life experience may enhance stress management in this group. These findings highlight the need for age-specific interventions that target the management of family resilience and perceived stress, emphasizing the critical role of appropriate theoretical frameworks.